A Cat’s Tale by Melissa Snark
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental. A Cat’s Tale COPYRIGHT 2012 by Melissa Snark All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Contact Information:
[email protected] Cover Art by Angela Anderson The Wild Rose Press, Inc. PO Box 708 Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708 Visit us at www.thewilderroses.com Publishing History First Scarlet Rose Edition, January 2012 Print ISBN 978-1-61217-215-6 Published in the United States of America Trademarks Acknowledgement The author of this work of fiction acknowledges the following trademarks: Jimi Hendrix: Experience Hendrix, LLC The Stones: Rolling Stones Records Marilyn Monroe: Estate of Marilyn Monroe Rally II wheels: General Motors Corporation
Dedication To my friend, Elanor, for all of her support and feedback, and always being willing to put up with one more round of werewolf spam.
A Cat’s Tale Somewhere between Virginia and California It happened in a nowhere town at a shithole bar off the main highway somewhere between Virginia and Los Angeles. Jared Kohl pulled off to get a drink and a burger. Okay, more than one drink, and a pile of burgers. But a werewolf had to eat and it took more than just one shot to get him buzzed. Whatever the case, he never did get to order. The bar was dim and cheap with its 60s themed movie and rock posters, and a jukebox pumping out Jimi Hendrix and The Stones. Jared took a seat at a corner table where he could stretch out his long legs and appreciate the classic image of Marilyn Monroe and her billowing white dress. As a stranger to this community, he was bound to attract attention. Jared measured a neat six-four and two hundred twenty pounds of pure sinewy muscle. His dark brown hair had gotten too long, so stubborn curls tumbled across his forehead. His neat mustache and beard covered only his chin, framing his mouth. He was handsome and knew it. He had his father’s good looks—broad forehead, strong nose, generous mouth, and square jaw. From his mother, he’d inherited startling topaz eyes. A cleft divided his chin. As distracting as all the eyes upon him were, Jared got hard the second he scented her—rich and musky and designed for fucking. His posture remained relaxed as she walked up behind him. He did not glance up until she ran a hand over his 1
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shoulder. Her fingernails were painted fire-engine red and sharpened to points. The light scratches she left on his skin healed thanks to his regenerative ability. “So a werewolf and a werecat walk into a bar…” Her voice was low and husky, pitched to create a seductive resonance within a man’s crotch. Beneath the pheromones, he smelled sadness and anxiety, which intrigued him more than the blatant come on. She seemed more complex than she wanted to let on. Jared looked up from his drink to get hung up on a pair of pretty knees clad in white stockings and red lace garters encircling slender thighs. Her plaid skirt was the right length of short, stopping just shy of crotch level, low enough to tease him. She wore a prim white button-up shirt with a collar and rolled sleeves. Her skin was Asian mocha, and her hair was black and worn in pigtails secured with red ribbons. Her almond-shaped eyes were bright blue with slit pupils. The ornate gold collar around her neck seemed incongruous with the outfit. She was working the Japanese schoolgirl angle hard, but he judged her to be in her early twenties. Sometimes, with shapechangers, it was hard to tell. “Let’s cut to the chase,” Jared said. “Does the wolf eat the pussycat?” He smiled, showing a hint of fang. It had been a while since he’d eaten and he was hungry enough to consider her the entrée. Jared met those cobalt eyes but did not worry about dominance. He was smart enough not to get into a staring contest with a cat. “Does the wolf want to eat the pussycat?” She trailed a suggestive hand down his chest and then sat on his lap. Unless he was mistaken, she wasn’t against the idea of being splayed and licked. Hell, she might go for biting if her kink was pain. “It’s been a while since I last ate,” he said. She wasn’t what he expected of a werecat. But then he’d 2
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never met one until she walked up and sat in his lap, so he was free of preconceived notions. “You’re new to town,” she said. “Are you here with your pack?” Oh man, she was leading him without any subtlety. He smelled the trap big time. “I’m on my way to LA,” he said. “Sorry, but I’m afraid it’s just me.” He watched her reaction, trying to figure her angle. She had fire and spirit, and the air of a creature abused. Her smile widened. “So, you’re a lone wolf?” “Not exactly,” Jared responded with caution. He shrugged. “It’s more a matter of circumstance than choice. It’s complicated.” “I like complicated men.” On his lap, she shifted, rubbing her buttocks against his swollen cock and working the denim for friction. Jared sucked in air between his teeth. Oh yeah, a baited but obvious trap. “What’s your breed?” Anger flared in her cobalt eyes. She withdrew several inches away from him. He held up a staying hand. “I only meant—” Fuck, what had he meant? “Are you Persian? Burmese? You smell like a purebred.” “You know cats?” She seemed thrown. Mistrust glittered in her pretty eyes, causing her mask of sophistication to slip. “I’m Siamese.” He grinned. “My mom had a Siamese. He was a crazy cat.” “What happened to him?” she asked in a way that could only be described as catty. “Was he eaten by a werewolf?” “Sol passed away at the ripe old age of twentyone,” Jared said. At twenty-six, he had grown up with the cat and loved it a great deal. Restless, the werecat shifted. He smelled her fear—fear of him. His protective instincts rushed to the fore. He opened his mouth to ask why when she twisted on his lap to straddle him. With a glance, he 3
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got a good look at her crotch as the skirt bunched up high across her thighs. She had no panties on and a manicured pussy—Brazilian waxed. “Want to fuck me?” Jared swallowed hard. She hadn’t bothered to ask his name. No doubt, it was a trap. Jared nodded and followed her out of the bar anyway. He wanted to fuck her that bad. **** “Sweet ride,” the cat said, rubbing her painted fingertips across the leather seats of Jared’s classic, American muscle car. “Thanks, she’s got a V8 6.6 liter 360 horsepower and Rally II wheels. I rebuilt her transmission myself,” Jared said with a wolfish grin. He reckoned that the amused glimmer in the cat’s bright eyes was at his expense but he could have cared less. He loved his baby. “Show me how fast she goes,” the cat said. Her hand caressed the gear shift, and then slid to his denim-clad thigh. “Oh yeah.” Jared swallowed so his Adam’s apple bobbed, and stepped harder on the gas. He felt ready to explode. It was a fucking miracle he hadn’t wrapped the car around a tree. As it happened, the werecat lived in a mansion outside of town. Jared parked in the gravel driveway beneath a willow tree. He followed her inside, cautious but confident in his ability to handle any trouble the cat might throw at him. “Nice place,” Jared said, glancing around at the antique packed main room. “Does it belong to your grandmother?” The cat shot Jared a glance over her shoulder. “My aunt,” she said. Her scent and body language underwent a subtle alteration. Jared gave her a sharp look. He smelled the lie. “Really?” 4
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“Great aunt.” She poured him a drink of dark amber liquid in a brandy snifter. She hadn’t asked if he wanted one; she prepared it. “Did your aunt give you the fancy collar?” Jared envisioned a strand of blue sapphires about her slender throat instead of the gold necklace. “It was a gift from an admirer,” the cat said. “No offense, but your admirer has gaudy taste.” Jared allowed his glance to shift from the collar to their surroundings and the bright floral wallpaper. In his mind, the existence of a great aunt remained very much in question. “That’s true,” she laughed with forced humor. She placed the drink in his hand, and then ran her hands over his body, seeking to distract him. It worked. “What’s your name?” Jared asked. He slammed the drink back before glancing around the room. Unlike her, he kept his hands to himself. The scent of fear remained prominent about her. She aroused his protective instincts and compelled a sense of caution. If curiosity killed the cat, Jared would be the next victim. “Does it matter?” she asked, cocking her head. His brow rose. “Hell yeah, it matters.” Jared sniffed and then sneezed. The room was stuffy and dusty, and a blanket of incense obscured everything else. It reminded him of a funeral home or a Catholic church. “Is that frankincense?” He sniffed again and identified an underlying odor. Something…dead. Jared worked to identify the source of the offensive scent but was distracted as his vision blurred and his thoughts clouded. He dropped the brandy snifter and it shattered on the hardwood floor. “You drugged me? Why?” Jared stared at her, surprised in spite of everything. He staggered, fighting to keep his 5
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balance as the potent drug sapped his strength. She stared at him with great blazing blue eyes and bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I had no choice.” Jared opened his mouth to reply but nothing came out. He blacked out before he hit the floor.
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Day 1 Jared woke on his back to a cold cement floor. He still had his clothing but everything else—his watch, cell phone, and wallet—was gone. He noted the silver bracelets on his wrists in spite of the throbbing in his head and aching of his body. Jared had almost rolled over when the sound of angry female voices stopped him. He laid still and listened, hoping to recover his faculties before they noticed he was awake. “Mistress, please, I beg of you! Let me live! The male I’ve brought you is as fine as any cat.” Jared identified his treacherous werecat by her voice and scent. A different, more refined woman laughed. It was a cruel sound and the scent of death lingered about her like heavy cologne—vampire. “Oh please!” she said. “You must be delusional, except even you aren’t so stupid. This wolf is unacceptable. Do you think I haven’t learned about werewolves in the last fifty years? They’re killing machines—tanks with claws and fangs—and they hate vampires. You’ll bring an entire rabid pack down on top of us!” “No, Mistress, please,” the cat pleaded. “All wolves aren’t the same. This one is submissive. He claims no pack; I asked him myself. He’s traveling alone. Only a low status wolf driven out of his pack would do so. I believe he’s some pack’s castoff Omega.” “Where do you come by your information?” the vampire demanded, sounding skeptical. 7
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“I did some research,” the cat said. “I saw a documentary on wolves and I looked it up on the Internet. Please, believe me. Give him a chance. He can be trained to fulfill your needs.” From his posture of dead opossum, Jared almost blew it then and there. He developed a painful stitch in his side and bit the inside of his mouth to stop the laughter. “I don’t think…” The vampire trailed off, voice full of temptation and doubt. “Werewolf blood is said to be a rare delicacy.” Jared chose that moment to issue a dramatic moan and roll over. He opened his eyes to survey his surroundings. The room was no more than threehundred square feet. He was inside of a smaller ironbarred cell with walls but no windows. The cell contained a cot and a folding chair. A small doorway showed a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and countertop with a chipped rectangular mirror. There were wall-mounted security cameras outside the cells. Jared grabbed hold of the iron bars and exerted his massive strength. They held. He would not be able to bust out using conventional werewolf tactics. Both women fell silent, watching him. Across the hall, the werecat occupied an identical area. The cat paced near the bars and no longer looked human. She had shifted to a form midway between human and feline. She wore no clothing, but remained bipedal with arms and legs, hands and feet. Her fur was short and fine; creamcolored on her main body and dark on her face, ears, legs, and tail. From the look of it, she was a seal point Siamese. Oh, and a fucking anamorphic wet dream. Screw the stupid schoolgirl uniform. Jared stared at the vampire through the bars. She was no more than five feet tall and of slender build and willowy limbs. Her straight chestnut hair 8
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fell past her shoulders and parted in the middle at her widow’s peak. She wore an old-fashioned rosecolored chiffon dress. Her floral perfume could not mask the underlying scent of death and decay. The vampire’s eyes were light brown and Jared met her gaze without hesitation. He more than halfway expected to feel something—awe, hypnosis, or a contest of wills. “Heh, not even tingles,” he bragged with a wolfish grin. The vampire pursed her lips and glared harder, staring him straight in the eyes, hoping to accomplish…something. Finally, she sighed in disappointment and rolled her eyes. “What’s wrong? Can’t command me?” “Cats are my animal,” she said. “Don’t let it go to your head, wolf. The silver bracelets will prevent you from shifting and, if you are unwise enough to persist, then they will cut off your hands.” Jared glanced at the silver bands on each wrist. “Good to know,” he said with a careless shrug. “What’s your name?” The vampire betrayed her surprise. “You’re not what I expected for a werewolf.” He mustered a weak smile. “I’m Omega, right? Omegas are the most subservient of wolves. Miss Kitty seems to have me all figured out, so what’s the point of faking a display of aggression or defiance? The bars are too strong to break, so I’m gonna do whatever you say anyway.” The vampire frowned. “You could be lying.” Her doubt betrayed her youth and impotence. Older vampires could smell a lie. Jared made note of the information; no doubt it would prove useful. “Lying about what?” Jared asked. “If I were a dominant then I’d be making threats and ripping out the fixtures.” “Why aren’t you?” the vampire asked. He noticed the hunger in her expression when she 9
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looked at him. Her gaze lingered on his throat at the pulse point. He put his hands on the bars and attempted to shake them. “This feels damn solid to me, so it’s obvious I’m not going anywhere. I have to live in here so if I trash it, then I’m hurting myself. Besides, if I were to get out, I’d have to get past you, the other vamps, and the silver jewelry that stops me from changing. So it seems like I’m stuck.” “I find your agreeable attitude pleasing, wolf,” the vampire admitted with a smile. “I am Evangeline.” Jared gripped the bars in the both hands and leaned forward, pressing his face close to the bars. “Pleasure to meet you, Evangeline. I’m Jared.” “Are you hungry, Jared?” As she spoke, fangs peeked from beneath her upper lip. Clearly, her focus on food stemmed from a personal interest. “Hungry enough,” Jared responded. His posture appeared relaxed, his long body at ease. She couldn’t dominate him, but he wondered how he might affect her. Deciding to test the waters, the werewolf allowed his power to seep into the room, casting his net. The vampire met his gaze and then fell under the sway of his magnetism. “You have the most remarkable eyes,” Evangeline murmured, strolling closer. “Have you ever sampled a werewolf before?” Jared asked, careful not to push too hard. A vampire was not a human to be manipulated or cowed. If Evangeline realized his game, it was all over. The flash of greed on Evangeline’s face betrayed her. “I have heard it is a…powerful elixir.” “I’ll tell you what,” he said. “I’d like to demonstrate my cooperation. If I submit and allow you to feed from me, then I’d ask for a token in exchange.” 10
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Evangeline licked her lips. The vampire’s eyes flashed red, and she could not disguise her bloodlust. “What do you want?” “I want the cat who betrayed me. I overheard your conversation. You’re going to kill her anyway and I’d like to play with her before I eat her.” Jared turned his head to stare straight at the treacherous cat. The werecat flinched in fear, and her fur rose across her entire body. The cat’s eyes widened with absolute terror and she emitted a long hiss. “No, Mistress, please. I beg of you!” Jared glared at the cat. “I will make you pay,” he promised. The scent of her fear was delicious. Evangeline smirked. “Done.” **** Josephine huddled in the corner of her cell, watching with horror as the werewolf bargained with the vampire. The wolf’s power was greater than Josephine had imagined. How he had hidden it? The enormity of her miscalculation frightened her senseless. Jared’s stare was hard, cold, and bloodthirsty. Once the bars were no longer between them, those topaz eyes promised to exact an awful vengeance for her duplicity. “Put your arm out through the bars,” Evangeline commanded the wolf, “and bare your wrist.” “Really? You don’t prefer a major artery on the neck or inner thigh?” Jared teased with an easy charm. The werewolf was confident and seductive, radiating a casual self-assurance. Unfortunately, Evangeline was too stupid, too greedy, and too far under his spell to see it. “Maybe after I’m sure you’re submissive to me,” Evangeline purred. “It’s sweet, you taking your time with me since I’m a virgin to this,” Jared quipped. He shoved his arm between the bars of the cell as instructed, wrist 11
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angled up. The vampire caught his arm in both hands, one holding his wrist, the other his forearm. She flashed fang, eyes glowing red, and hissed serpent-like. Then she bent and sank her teeth into Jared’s flesh. Jared grimaced and the wolf flashed across his features. Josephine witnessed everything that Evangeline missed—the elongation of his teeth, the golden glow of his eyes, and the ripple of muscle beneath skin as the transformation began and then halted. Through an amazing act of will, Jared reversed the change, grinding his teeth, and submitted as the vampire sucked his blood. As the vampire fed, Jared turned his malevolent gaze toward Josephine. “Gonna getcha, cat,” he mouthed, sending chills up her spine. Evangeline released him and emitted a long, satisfied hiss. The vampire glowed in blood-sated pleasure. Jared yanked his arm back, giving the bite wound a cursory examination. “I’ll need to eat to keep my strength up, especially if you want to feed often,” he said. The besotted vampire smiled. “I’ll have food brought,” Evangeline promised. She went to the wall and pressed the intercom. “Carl, come here now.” Silence reigned as they waited. Carl arrived with two other minions. “The wolf is now my favored pet,” Evangeline declared. “See to it that he is fed twice a day.” The vampire began to leave and Josephine held her breath, hoping and praying she had been forgotten. Evangeline paused at the base of the stairs, her foot hovering over the first step. She glanced back at Josephine with an evil smile. “Oh, and give him the cat.” Then she departed, moving faster than the feline eye could follow. Terrified, Josephine backed into the farthest corner of her cell, sinking to a crouch. Her fur rose 12
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as her tail puffed and lashed in anger. She hissed and yowled as the cell door opened and the three men approached her. Carl held a cattle prod, which he shoved toward Josephine, delivering a nasty jolt of electricity. The attack rendered her senseless, and she dangled in the men’s grip as they dragged her from the cell. “Stand back,” Carl warned Jared. The human servant waved the cattle prod at the werewolf through the bars. Jared moved back into the cell and the vampire’s servants swung the door open. They tossed in Josephine, slammed the door shut, and locked it. Amazingly, Jared caught her slight form midair and held her limp body against his chest. “Thanks, guys,” Jared drawled. “So, does this count as my first meal or can you get me some cheeseburgers?” Carl glared at Jared’s insolence but the servant knew his place. He would not risk the wrath of his capricious mistress. “Any preferences?” “Not really,” Jared said. “Oh, and don’t forget fries. And a chocolate milkshake.” Josephine trembled as the servants departed, leaving her alone in the grip of the wolf. She fought to hold back tears but failed. His hands were strong and intimate on her skin as he lowered her to the bed. Jared sat on the edge and leaned forward, inspecting the burn mark on her shoulder. “Shh, don’t cry,” he said, strong fingers wiping a tear from her cheek. “I won’t hurt you. I promise.” “I don’t believe you,” Josephine hissed as more tears fell. She hated herself for being so weak. “Sooner or later you’ll tire of this game and then you’ll hurt me.” Jared sat back and smiled. “Well, then,” he said, “it’s in your best interest to appease me. Right? So I don’t get bored too soon.” He leaned forward and Josephine flinched, expecting a blow that never 13
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came. “What’s your name, little one?” She bit her lower lip and decided to be compliant as he had suggested. It might keep her alive a while longer, at least until she could figure out how to get herself out of this mess. “Josephine.” She gritted her teeth, tasting bitterness. Names were very personal for her people, and she did not want him knowing hers or using it. “Josephine,” he said, testing it out. Then he grinned. “Seriously? Josie the Cat?” Josephine emitted a loud, miserable cry of protest at being demeaned. “It’s Josephine.” She trembled and yawned, fighting heavy eyelids. She was exhausted, hurt, and her body required sleep. “Josephine,” Jared repeated with an amused chuckle. He pulled a blanket over her and tucked it under her chin. Those amazing topaz eyes gazed down at her from a face so handsome she ached. Why, just once, couldn’t life be kind? She needed a hero, not some sarcastic, sadistic wolf. Right before she fell asleep, she felt his warm lips against her forehead. “Sleep tight, Josie Cat.” **** Josephine awoke, stretching and yawning long before she opened her eyes. Memory returned through the haze of lethargy and then the scent of food inundated her nostrils, bringing her to complete alertness. Sniffing, she sat up and followed her nose to the edge of the bed until her vision focused on Jared with a white paper bag. He had an open cheese-burger wrapper in his hand and a container of fresh French fries on his lap. She froze and stared. “Hey,” he said, “are you hungry?” She hissed in response and backed up on the bed. Jared gazed at her and then sighed. His topaz eyes were sorrowful as if he had witnessed far too much suffering for one life. She hardened her heart. 14
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She would not fall for his sad face. “Yeah, well, in case you change your mind.” Jared set a cheeseburger on the edge of the bed. Then he left his chair and moved away. Josephine waited, paranoid and scared, expecting him to jump her the second she let her guard down and displayed an interest in the food. Besides, it was junk. She had no interest in a greasy hamburger and French fries. She waited, nose twitching and stomach growling in protest. It smelled so…delicious. Finally, her willpower crumbled and she pounced, snatching and devouring the cheeseburger so fast she ate at least two bites of paper wrapper. “When’s the last time they fed you, Josie Cat?” Jared asked after witnessing the cheeseburger carnage. Josephine sniffed. “I eat all the time,” she lied. He laughed, a rich sound, stroking her fur like a friendly hand. Josephine glowered. His eyes danced with deviltry and his mouth was 100% kissable. He had big hands and strong arms; a lap designed for straddling. His animal magnetism oozed from every pour. And oh, how she hated him! Time passed before they spoke again. “Why did you do this to me?” he asked. Josephine stared at Jared. Her great blue eyes filled with tears that she fought against. “You see this collar?” she asked. He nodded. “It’s hideous.” “That’s not even the half of it. That demented vampire can suck the life from me any time she wishes if I disobey.” “Why don’t you turn into a cat and take it off?” Jared asked. “Don’t you think I’ve tried? This is as far as I can shift.” Josie indicated her cat-woman form with a quick gesture and scrubbed at her tears. “I didn’t 15
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want to bring you here. Evangeline ordered me to find her someone new. She was already angry with me because I—” She bit her tongue to keep from saying too much. “Because you what?” Jared asked. He sat on the floor with his back against the wall, knees bent, and arms dangling between them. His manner was mild and curious, as if they were discussing trivia instead of the betrayal that had landed him here. “Because I had already made her mad,” Josephine finished. She knew it was a lame excuse. She stared at the ground and then looked up at him. “I’m sorry. I had no choice.” Jared flicked an imaginary speck of lint with his fingers. “It’s okay,” he said, and she didn’t believe him for a second. Sinking to a crouch, Josie wrapped her tail about her body and covered her nose. Jared deserved his anger. She despised herself for what she had done to a fellow shapechanger. **** An hour later, Jared stood and the motion caused Josephine to stir from her catnap. She opened her eyes and found Jared standing near the entrance of the bathroom. “Hey, Josie,” he called in a soft voice. “Come here a second.” Cautious but curious, she rose. She had stopped expecting him to jump her a while ago. “Why?” she asked, approaching the bathroom. “What is it?” She peered past him through the half open doorway. “Is this the only place without cameras?” he asked in a low voice. “Yes,” she said, peering at the werewolf. What was he up to? “Are there any microphones down here?” he asked. “No, the security system is ancient. It has video 16
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but no audio,” she said. “Why?” “I want privacy,” Jared said. His hands closed on her upper arms in an iron-strong grip she had no hope of breaking. A jolt of pure terror hit Josephine. She panicked and hissed, and then yowled as Jared shackled her against him with his hands. “I’m sorry, Josie.” He dragged her into the bathroom and shoved the door closed behind them. “No, Jared! Please, don’t—” Josephine fought him with frantic determination. Her claws scored his forearms and she sank her teeth into his throat, drawing a hiss of pain from the wolf. Josie yowled in distress and her struggles were all that much more frantic because there was no one who would come to her rescue. “Jared, please! Please don’t hurt me!” Jared pinned her beneath him against the dirty tiles. Josephine shredded his shirt with her claws and left bloody gouges across his chest. She bit his face and fought with all of her might until the werewolf immobilized her on the hard floor. His naked chest pressed against hers, and his considerable weight held her down. Arms pinned above her head, Josephine could only sob and scream as his crotch pressed against her pussy. Through the denim, she felt his straining cock. He was huge, hard, and primal. She waited for him to finish undressing, for penetration, for the inevitable violation that never came. He remained rigid above her. His breath was short and labored, and his entire body dripped with sweat. Eventually, she dissolved into tears and he rolled off her, apologizing. “I’m sorry, Josie. I need for that bitch to believe I’m using you. My scent must be on you.” Josephine turned away from him and pressed her face against the cold tile. Her heartbroken sobs echoed through the small bathroom. What he had 17
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done, cruelty following kindness, was so much worse than any torture Evangeline had ever devised. Josephine knew she wasn’t strong enough or brave enough to survive him. If she couldn’t be rid of him, he’d do worse than kill her. He’d break her.
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Day 2 The next evening found Josie curled on the hard floor of the cell because she had refused to share the uncomfortable cot with Jared. After the incident in the bathroom, the werewolf’s behavior had reverted to laidback and flippant. He offered her food, which she refused. He attempted to engage her in small talk, which she ignored. He had shown his true colors; she would not buy into his deception again. “How long have you been here, Josie?” Jared asked with transparent irritation. Repeated failed attempts to engage her in conversation seemed to be wearing down his patience. Boredom was the enemy of any cat. Josie glanced his way, tired of staring at the water stain on the wall. “Three years,” she said with a flick of her ear. “Maybe longer; it’s hard to keep track of time.” Jared stretched his arms and back. Muscles and joints popped as he worked out the kinks. “Does anyone know you’re here?” Josie blinked against more tears and shook her head. “No family? No friends?” She bit her lip. “Werecats are like werewolves. We’re born, not bitten. I was born feline; I don’t remember my mother. I spent the first twenty years of my life with a sweet old lady from Pensacola. I knew what I was, but I was content to spend most of my life as a cat. I only shifted when I wanted to open a door or get into the fridge. I made sure my owner never saw me change. She thought there was a ghost 19
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in her house.” Jared chuckled and grinned. “That’s so you, Josie Cat.” He paced the length of the enclosure once, stretching his legs. His movement brought him too close to her. Jared sank to a crouch. “How did you get here?” It was more personal information than she had ever meant to share but then no one had ever cared enough to ask before. She found herself answering against her better judgment. “One day I was kidnapped by vamps and then sold to Evangeline. I’ve been her blood pet ever since.” She stopped. “Until recently, that is. She’s done with me now.” Disgust crossed Jared’s mobile features. “Have you been alone the entire time?” he asked. “Or have there been others?” Josie shot him a sharp, hateful glance. Trust the wolf to sniff out the topic that hurt the most. “There was another cat when I got here,” she informed him. “He’s gone now. Evangeline killed him.” Jared did not take the hint. “What happened to him, Josie Cat? What happened to you?” Josie’s fur stood on end and her tail lashed. His ability to penetrate her defenses angered her beyond the point of caution. “I know your secret,” she hissed. Taunting him was the height of stupidity, but he refused to leave well enough alone. Jared cocked his head to the side, regarding her with an intent stare. “Which one would that be?” he asked, ironic and dangerous. “You’re not a submissive wolf, Jared. Any fool can see it.” “What are you going to do?” he asked. Jared’s body had grown stiff and he towered over her. The sounds of approaching footsteps cut their confrontation short. “Josie, don’t tell,” Jared warned, intimidating her with his topaz stare. Evangeline entered the confinement area with 20
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Carl and two of her other minions. Josephine flew at the bars and gripped them with both hands. “Mistress, please, let me out.” The vampire regarded Josephine with disdain. “Why on earth would I do that?” she asked. “Frankly, I’m surprised to find you still alive, Josephine.” She sniffed and then smiled. “The wolf has been making good use of you, I see.” “It’s boring in here,” Jared said with a shrug. “Can I have something to read?” The werewolf’s audacity was unbelievable. Josephine did not dwell on it. She could smell his anger and knew he intended to kill her. “Mistress, please, I beg of you. The wolf hasn’t been honest with you. Just let me out—” The werecat clung to the bars, prepared to beg on her knees if necessary. Evangeline regarded her and sneered. “I’ll admit, I’m intrigued to hear what you have to say. Do you have a secret, Jared? What do you think Josephine has to tell me?” Jared had not moved from where he stood. “I can’t say, but it’s probably a lie. As far as I can tell, she can’t be trusted,” he said with a chuckle. “She is a treacherous creature. Come, Josie, let’s hear it,” Evangeline said. “Let me out of the cage first, please,” Josephine begged. Her fear of the unpredictable werewolf was greater than for the familiar vampire. Evangeline might be moody and cruel, but at least she was a known quantity. “Open the cell, Carl,” Evangeline said with a small gesture. Carl opened the cell door and grabbed a fistful of Josephine’s hair. He held the cattle prod ready to keep the werewolf at bay. Josie scrambled from the enclosure and Carl locked the door behind her. Josie cowered at the vampire’s feet. 21
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“Let’s hear it,” Evangeline demanded. “Take off my collar first,” Josephine demanded. Removed from Jared’s reach, she moved on to her next highest priority. The collar represented a constant threat to her life. Evangeline’s lips compressed. It was clear the vampire had not yet eaten and her patience was thin. However, she bent to work the combination lock on the cat’s collar. Josephine had spent endless hours playing with the antique lock, spinning the numbers in an attempt to find the right code. The vampire removed it within seconds. Josephine gasped and reached for her bare throat, feeling matted fur where the collar had encircled her neck. It was exhilarating to have the heavy weight removed. She felt able to breathe again for the first time in weeks. “What is he hiding?” Evangeline demanded. “Jared is a dominant wolf. He’s not his pack’s Omega at all,” Josephine blurted out, casting a quick glance at the werewolf. With a start of fear, she found him standing much closer to the bars than before. He was within arm’s reach of her. Evangeline arched her fine brow. “Really,” she said, casting a skeptical glance at the werewolf. “Jared, what do you say?” Jared rolled his eyes. “You’d think she could come up with something more creative.” He leaned against the bars and offered his arm. “Would it please you to feed, Mistress?” He spoke with exactly the right amount of humility and submissiveness. His entire body language communicated sensuous indolence; he was pure seduction. Evangeline beamed, both distracted and pleased. The vampire wrapped her hands around the werewolf’s arm and tilted back her head, mouth opening as her fangs extended. She bent forward, burying her fangs in his muscular arm. Jared 22
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grunted and turned his head to the side to conceal his expression from the minions across the room. While Evangeline fed, Jared stared at Josephine with malevolent topaz eyes. He froze her with his gaze and she discovered green and red specks within the golden irises. Josephine’s terror escalated with each passing second, leaving her trembling. Evangeline finished and used a handkerchief to dab at her mouth, wiping away a small amount of blood. She smiled at Jared with girlish adoration. Jared maintained a demur stance at odds with his blatant masculinity. “Carl, bring Jared reading material,” Evangeline instructed. “Find out what he likes.” “Yes, Mistress,” Carl said. “Can I please have my cat back?” Jared asked, keeping his eyes lowered in an ingratiating manner. Josephine shook her head in silent denial. Evangeline did not even look at the werecat. “Carl, put her collar back on.” A wail of denial rose from Josephine as the human servants surrounded her. She got in a couple good scratches before a solid kick to the stomach left her doubled over. Before she recovered, Carl snapped the hated collar back on Josephine’s neck. “Let this be a lesson to you,” Evangeline said. The vampire extended an open hand toward Josephine. The collar about Josephine’s neck glowed white hot and excruciating pain lanced through her body. It felt as if the vampire were ripping her apart from the inside. Josephine screamed and grabbed for the collar, making a futile attempt to be free. Jared surged against the bars, creating a resounding clash as his full weight struck steel. “Mistress, please—” Evangeline turned her attention to Jared and Josephine’s pain stopped. Panting, the werecat went limp. “I want to kill her myself,” Jared pleaded. 23
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“An admirable desire, my wolf,” Evangeline said. “Carl, give Jared his cat.” With a flip of her hand, the vampire departed. Always obedient and efficient, Carl dragged Josephine to the cell. “Ought to kill her and get it over with,” Carl advised Jared. Forcing the werewolf back like a lion tamer with a chair, Carl wielded the cattle prod before him and backed from the cell. He slammed the door shut behind him and locked it. “Yeah, well, I like to play with my food,” Jared replied. “Get me some sports magazines, some porn, and a copy of Shakespeare’s works, okay?” “Shakespeare seems a mite highbrow for a wolf,” Carl said. He dropped Josephine to the ground. She welcomed the cold cement to the human servant’s cruel touch. “What can I say, I’m trying to better myself,” Jared quipped. He did not come close to Josephine until the servants departed. She shrank from him, quivering with fear and loathing. She hissed when he touched her but lacked the strength to lash out and was forced to endure his examination. Jared checked her for injuries and inspected the collar before he picked her up off the floor. “Josie, Josie,” he said, settling her against his chest. “What am I going to do with you?” Josephine turned her face to the side in an act of passive resistance. Tears trailed along her cheeks and down her neck to the hated collar. Jared’s gentleness was a form of torture. The waiting was destroying her. “Just get it over with,” she said, once she was strong enough to lift her head. He carried her into the bathroom. She supposed he wanted someplace easy to clean up afterward. Or maybe he liked privacy for the act. He set her down on the counter next to the sink. As he reached past her to the faucet, Josephine got in a clean swipe at 24
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his face. Her claws gouged four parallel incisions across his cheek from below his eye to his jaw. A snarl erupted from Jared; his lips peeled back in a bold show of teeth. His wolf rose, and those topaz eyes turned on her with restrained violence. He grabbed her arms, capturing and pinning her against the countertop. Josephine fought but he was too strong. “I ought to rip out your throat and eat you alive,” he said. “That makes twice now that you’ve betrayed me.” He imprisoned her wrists with one hand and positioned her so he stood between her parted thighs. Josephine wailed and struggled as his muscular body surged against hers. He pressed his chest to her breasts and then released her wrists. Once freed, she gouged his shoulders, leaving deep scratches, as he buried his face against her throat. Josephine waited. She waited for his teeth to rip out her jugular. Maybe he intended to take her body first. She waited for the inevitable violence and abuse she knew must be coming—it was all she had ever known. With a tired sigh, Jared turned his head to the side and rested his bloody cheek against the top of her head. His breathing was deep and steady and his touch comforting. “I don’t understand,” Josephine said, crying again but for different reasons. It had been far too long since another person had held her. “You’ve been abused, Josie,” he said. He lifted his head to look down at her; already his cheek had begun to heal. As she gazed upon the bloody scratches, Josephine cringed with guilt. Thank God she had missed his beautiful eye. “I realize it’s going to take time to win your trust, but time is the one thing we don’t have a lot of. You’re the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever seen, and I admit I want you, but not like this. If 25
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something ever happens between us, I want you to want me too.” Josephine opened her mouth to apologize but the words got stuck behind a mountain of mistrust. This might be another game. Once he’d won her trust, then he would kill her. It was a scenario all too easy to imagine. When she made no reply, Jared grunted, conveying disappointment. “Hold still a second,” he said, reaching for her throat. Josephine remained motionless, submitting to his touch. She felt his fingers on the collar, turning it, fumbling with the combination lock. “Got it,” he said, and the collar came free in his hands. He grinned. “I was paying attention when the vampire took it off.” Josephine stared at him in disbelief and reached up to feel her bare throat. Then, Jared snapped the collar back into place, closing the lock before the cat had a chance to react. She gazed at him in absolute hurt and disbelief. “If I leave it off, the vampire will figure out that I’m deceiving her,” Jared explained with an ironic smile. He backed away from Josephine. “Somehow, I think you can be trusted not to tell Evangeline I know how to take it off. I’m getting out of here, Josie. You can bet your sweet tail on it,” he said. Somehow, she believed him. Abruptly, Josephine realized the enormity of her mistake in trusting Evangeline instead of Jared. She wanted him to be the real deal; she needed to trust her attraction to him. But it was impossible. She had betrayed him twice. He had no reason to take a back-stabbing cat with him when he left. “How the hell am I supposed to trust you?” Her own outburst caught Josie by surprise. Jared stared at her with unblinking topaz eyes. “You think it’s any easier for me, pussycat?” 26
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Day 3 It was a day much like the one before in the werewolf’s cell. Hours passed like molasses. Carl brought Jared fast-food that he then shared with Josephine. Evangeline returned when the sun set. Jared flirted and submitted; the vampire fed and left in a hurry. “I’m bored,” Josephine said, pacing the floor. The cloying heat and humidity made her fur damp. She never felt clean no matter how many hours she devoted to grooming. Jared looked up from his magazine and heaved a sigh. The werewolf straddled the single chair, leaning with his chest against the back. His skin glistened with the sheen of sweat, emphasizing the corded muscles of his throat and arms. “At least you’re still alive to be bored.” The cat swung on him. “You think that’s some sort of consolation?” Jared smirked. “Why don’t you come over here? I could do with a quick snack.” “You’re all bark, no bite,” Josie snapped. Her ears flattened but she no longer believed he’d eat her. He wasn’t above taunting her with it though. Jared’s sultry chuckle caused her fur to ripple and her tail to kink. “I’ve got plenty of bite.” His teeth snapped together, mocking a bite. His provocative teasing only earned him a tail smack across the lower jaw. With lightning quick reflexes, he caught the tip between two fingers. The scent of his arousal was thick on the air; his gaze smoldered as it lingered on tail and backside. “I can 27
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think of ways to pass the time.” Damn him. Josie snatched her tail away before her wanton nature got her into more trouble than she could handle. But, ooohhh, how she’d love to throw caution to the wind. She’d bet one of her nine lives that her big bad wolf would be worth the ride. Fuming, Josephine sat on the cot opposite Jared. Out of desperation, she decided to try a different tact. “Where are you from?” His eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Why? Do you need more information to sell to the vampire?” Her ears flattened. “Fine,” she huffed. “You were the one who wanted to talk yesterday.” “Gee, I wonder what could’ve changed.” Jared’s sarcasm was sharp and pointed. Josie’s ears flattened further and she sighed, falling silent. She needed his goodwill and seemed to have destroyed any chance of obtaining it through her own machinations. She wanted so much more from him than simple kindness. Remarkably, Jared relented. He tossed his magazine into the pile of reading material Carl had provided. “Roanoke, Virginia.” Josephine’s ears sprang forward. “Why were you heading to LA?” His lips curved into a smirk. “You could say I had an important engagement.” His private joke irritated Josephine. Her tailed lashed but she refused to succumb to the temptation to pursue it. “Wouldn’t it have been simpler to fly to LA than drive?” He licked his lips. “I have a thing about airplanes.” “Oh, really? Are you scared?” Josephine taunted. Jared snickered. “Scared of damaging the airplane while it’s ten thousand feet in the air? Oh, yeah, I’m scared.” 28
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The man was impossible. “Are both your parents werewolves?” she asked. He had spoken of his family with affection. Maybe he would open up if worked from a different perspective. And it worked like a charm. “Just my mom; my dad is human. They retired to Florida a couple years ago to operate a boat charter service for scuba divers.” “Do you have any littermates?” Jared snorted and grinned. “I’m an only child.” “What do you do for a living?” Josephine asked. His smile widened. “I’m a fireman.” He was a hero? It was not what she had expected. Slacker would have fit better with her image of him. “Are you the type of fireman who runs into burning buildings or a paramedic?” “Burning buildings, but I also perform building inspections, search and rescue, and respond to medical calls.” His stare grew pointed. “Sometimes I even rescue little cats.” Josephine blushed and bristled. “No one asked you to rescue me.” Jared snorted. “I wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for you, so I’d have to disagree. Although, my life would be so much simpler if you were stuck up a tree.” She turned her nose up. “Humph.” “My turn,” Jared said, licking his lips in an alarming way. His regard had become little too hungry for her taste. “Your turn?” “You’re the one angling to get on my good side,” Jared reminded her with a smile that made it clear he harbored no illusions regarding her motives. “I answered your questions; turnabout’s fair play.” “Okay,” she agreed with reluctance. “What do you want to know?” “Why does the vampire use a gold collar instead 29
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of silver to control you?” Jared asked. The question surprised her. Josephine had expected something more…personal. “Evangeline had the collar made special for her pet cats,” she said. “She feeds exclusively on cats—or has—up until now. But usually one cat at a time.” “She’s been a vampire fifty years?” he asked. Josephine indicated agreement with a flicker of her ear. “And you’ve been here three years?” Jared asked, gaining control of the conversation. Josephine did not understand how, but she felt obligated to answer. Her chest hurt from a crushing pressure, restricting her breath. “I’ve survived longer than most,” Josephine whispered, turning her face away to hide her tears. “So that’s at least sixteen cats she’s used and killed—maybe more,” he said. “Yes, many more,” Josephine agreed, scrubbing at her leaky eyes. Soon her name would be added to that list. “Silver doesn’t affect you the same as it does me,” he concluded, “which explains why the collar is made of gold. Evangeline has no experience dealing with werewolves, does she?” “She’s clueless,” Josephine agreed, stiffening her spine. She turned a baleful gaze on the wolf. “And poor. I’d be surprised if those cuffs you’re wearing are more than silver-plated.” Jared nodded. His expression was one of thoughtful calculation. Josephine realized that his questioning had nothing to do with hurting her and everything to do with escape. “Do you heal when you shift forms?” he asked. “Yes,” she said. “It takes a lot of energy, but shifting heals most injuries. Why?” “Just curious,” he said with a shrug. Then he 30
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was quiet, thinking again. “The shotguns are loaded with regular ammo,” she volunteered, seeing an opportunity to be helpful. “Werecats aren’t vulnerable to silver, but normal ammunition kills us just the same, so Evangeline’s never had a reason to spring for the expensive stuff.” Jared fixed those unsettling topaz eyes on her. Then he smiled and she flushed with pleasure. “Thank you, Josie,” he said. “That’s useful to know.” Before she formulated a reply, Jared stood, shoving the chair aside with his foot. His tension communicated his intent, along with an obvious reluctance, as he adopted an aggressive stance. She sprang off the bed and they jockeyed for position for a few seconds. “I don’t want this.” “I don’t want it either, but that skank vampire is just looking for an excuse to waste you.” “Wait, Jared.” His proximity excited her, but did not eradicate her fear. Josie wanted to touch him but not like this. Not again. Josie opened her mouth to reason with him, but the words jumbled together in her head. The distinct scent of his arousal made it worse, because she knew the rough play turned him on. “I’m sorry, Josie.” His muscles bunched and he lunged. Josephine sprang backward and evaded his first grab. He backed her into a corner and caught her on the second attempt. The werewolf secured a hold on Josie’s waist and dragged her toward the bathroom. He left her arms free and his upper body undefended, maybe on purpose, out of shame or contrariness. For a split second, Josie considered raking her claws across his beautiful face and putting out his eyes. Her stomach turned at the image her imagination conjured. Instead, she offered up the obligatory resistance, 31
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fighting him with all her strength. She wailed at the top of her lungs and hit his shoulders and chest with closed fists. He succeeded in shackling her wrists within one fist. “Please, not on the floor,” Josephine begged before he took her down. The dirty tile of the bathroom floor offended her fastidious nature. Surprise flashed in Jared’s eyes but he complied with her request. Pressing her against the countertop, Jared pinned her squirming body beneath his own. He never crushed her, using his strength to hold most of his weight off of her. Josephine wrapped her legs about Jared’s waist, hooking her ankles behind his back, so her crotch rubbed against his cock. She mewled in need as his jeans created friction and the bulge in his pants rubbed against her clit. Yes, there… “Jesus, Josie,” Jared growled. His topaz eyes blazed. “You’re killing me.” Her blue eyes flashed. “Don’t complain to me about your predicament. I didn’t ask to be here in the first place.” She shut him up. Jared turned his face into her throat. Josie tensed as his weight shifted and he pressed harder against her core. His naked chest flattened her small breasts. It took her a minute to realize the wolf was enjoying her fur against his bare skin. “You feel like a rabbit,” the wolf murmured, rubbing his cheek against her shoulder. Josie suppressed a shiver of delight. “Well, I don’t taste like rabbit,” she snapped, clinging to the vestiges of her anger. Jared’s entire body shook with laughter and he removed his face from her throat. “Rabbits taste gamey. I’m betting you’re…rich. Creamy.” Josephine heard the smile in his voice. For a tease, the werewolf had an abominable sense of what 32
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was funny. She sighed. “Must we do this every day? This is no fun for me.” Jared lifted his head to stare down at her with patent disbelief. Thankfully, he released her hands. “Do you think I enjoy this?” She sniffed her disdain and rolled her hips to make her point. Jared sucked in a wet inhalation through clenched teeth. “It’s pretty obvious this turns you on.” At least he didn’t deny it. “So I’m male. Sue me. I can’t help being turned on by a beautiful naked woman.” She experienced a thrill she’d have preferred to deny. She hid her smile and feigned indifference. “My fear turns you on too.” She scored a direct hit. His shoulders hunched in shame. “I’m a predator. I’m sorry I still scare you.” She huffed. “You enjoy it. Everyone knows dominant werewolves are bullies.” His eyes narrowed. “I never said I was dominant.” “Please, I’m not stupid like Evangeline,” Josephine said. “You’re not just dominant. You’re uber-dominant.” Staring up at him in such close proximity, she found his steady gaze disturbing. The desire he aroused in her was bad enough. When he stared into her eyes, it was as if he could see straight through her soul and knew all of her secrets. She hated the thought. “I know your other secret too,” she said, indulging a tendency to brag, which she regretted as soon as the words were spoken. Jared’s eyes narrowed, intent and threatening. “What would that be?” he asked. He had her pinned so it was impossible to evade him. “Your hands—you can still shift. You’ve grown claws twice while we’ve been in here,” she said, stuttering a little. “The silver in the bracelets isn’t 33
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enough to hold you. Like I said, they’re just silverplated.” Josephine knew her life was in danger. Jared had her in the perfect position to rip out her throat. “Jared, please don’t hurt me,” she pleaded. Her small hands supplicated against his chest. She loved touching the defined muscles, the soft chest hair, and his smooth skin. “I can be good.” He snickered. “I very much doubt that.” Then he sighed. “Have I hurt you yet?” He moved a small distance away, not much but enough to remove the implicit threat to her throat. Jared excelled at the nuances of nonverbal communication. She licked her lips. “No, not yet.” Those remarkable topaz eyes captured hers, quiet and intense. “Thank you for not scratching me.” From the expression on Jared’s face, she’d done more to win back his trust with that simple act than any amount of wheedling or scheming could have accomplished. Josephine blinked and her lips parted. He healed so fast, she wasn’t sure he’d noticed. “You’re welcome.” Jared’s voice dropped in a ploy designed to tempt her cat curiosity. He leaned in and whispered, “Want to know another secret?” Her ears shot forward, tall and erect, and her tail lifted. “What?” Josephine asked in spite of herself. Jared smiled and eased closer to her. He brought his lips to her ear and resumed his former position between her thighs. Despite her better judgment, Josephine opened for him, welcoming the return of those lean hips and the button fly straining against his erection. He waited. He pressed against her, stroking his 34
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hands over the soft fur of her haunches, teasing her nipples with his chest hair. Josephine’s breath hitched more than once, coming faster until she felt lightheaded. Her tail crept around his thigh, twining there. “What secret?” Josephine demanded, ever impatient. Jared nuzzled her cheek, his lips lingering in a long kiss, and the tip of his tongue tasted her flesh. The gentle caresses were a bright promise and so very tempting, because Josephine craved intimacy more than anything. Too long denied a kind word or a caring touch. At the same time, he frightened her because if she let her guard down, he’d possess the means to destroy her more thoroughly than killing her. “Jared?” Josephine grasped his face and pulled his lips from her skin to stare up at him. “What secret?” He gave new meaning to wolf smile. He had such big teeth. “I’m not the only one aroused, little cat.” Mouth open in shock and attempted denial, Josephine stared as he walked away.
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Day 4 Jared quelled his annoyance as Josie paced past him for what must have been the thousandth time. Fucking crazy Siamese. The little cat went stir crazy about the same time every day, walking the floors, the bed, and the bars—every imaginable surface on which a cat did and did not belong. Bowing to the inevitable, Jared closed his book and set it aside. Evangeline was due soon for her daily feeding anyway. Jared shifted on the mattress, seeking to ease the strain on his swollen cock. He resolved to wear looser jeans in the future. Lately, his attempts to read were for show. His choices were to stare at the pages or follow Josie’s every movement with all too transparent lust. The springs of the cot released a sharp squeak as he sat up and Josephine reached the end of the cell. She cast a glance over her shoulder in sultry appraisal. Her position granted him a picture pretty enough for a magazine spread. She held her tail high, revealing a delicate pink slit and tight mahogany knot. The powerful muscles of her legs bunched as if preparing to leap. Jared’s nostrils flared as he exhaled and fought to keep a cool head. Days of having her prance about naked under his nose—a juicy look-but-don’t-touch temptation—had convinced him of a new definition of hell. The vampire’s impending visit filled them both with increasing tension. Jared cast the cat an uneasy glance. Would she keep her mouth shut? He 36
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had no way of predicting what the moody, irrational creature might do from moment to moment. “Josie,” he called, keeping his tone soft. She turned toward him, head cocked and tail twitching. He patted the mattress beside him, inviting her to join him. Following a split second of hesitation, she leapt up beside him. He longed to reach out and scratch behind her ears to see if he could coax a purr but refrained. He didn’t want to push her. “Are you going to tell Evangeline?” Her ear flicked, but otherwise she gave no outward sign of reaction. “What if I do?” “You will get me killed this time. I can deny being a dominant wolf. I can fake submission and I’ve got a measure of influence over Evangeline, but it’s tenuous.” “So?” Her blue eyes never blinked. Josie stared at him, expression cat-blank, and he saw more of his own soul reflected in her luminous eyes than hers. “If they push me too hard then I will shift,” Jared said. His topaz gaze was stern. “You might get yourself killed too.” “She might reward me,” Josie taunted. Jared’s fists started to clench and he forced his hands to relax. He throttled the impulse to threaten or terrify her into compliance. Both tactics had already been tried and failed. Besides, he wanted…needed her trust. “And she might kill you,” Jared retorted. “Like she intended to before I bartered for you. She will hurt you, the same as yesterday.” The cat stirred. He’d managed to provoke a reaction. Her eyes flashed and her head whipped around toward him. “You keep claiming you asked for me to protect me, but I can tell you’re lying, Jared. There’s more that you’re not saying!” Deliberating, he stared at Josie, and then decided to go out on a limb. He needed to win her 37
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trust and so far his endeavors had fallen flat. “Okay, yes,” he said. “I have a use for you. You’ve been here a long time and you understand how things work. I need your help to get us out of here.” Her eyes narrowed. “Still lying,” she hissed. “You want me for more than that.” Confusion left him quiet and contemplative. Then, finally, the light bulb came on and he grinned. “I want you, Josie,” he said and laughed. “I want you just for you, because you’re gorgeous. And more than that, I admire your spirit and your fire.” Josie appeared poleaxed. Her entire body temperature shot up, the result of a deep blush. Rarely, if ever, did he manage to catch the cat so offguard. “You’re telling the truth,” she said, still staring at him with suspicion. “Of course I am,” he said. “Look at you. You’re a walking wet dream. What straight guy wouldn’t want to hit that?” He aimed a pointed look at her backside. The cat turned to follow her tail as if it were a separate entity. **** Josephine glanced down, watching her long dark tail twitch to and fro, as though with a mind of its own. Then she looked further and harder, considering her feminine curves, muscular limbs, perky breasts, and pretty pussy. Her only covering was her fur. His appreciation provoked such pleasure that it was all she could do not to purr. Jared’s skill for disarming her defenses scared Josephine to death. “That’s it?” she said with an irritable swish of her tail. “I’m gorgeous?” Jared threw back his head and laughed, warm and silky, causing her fur to ripple. “You’re smart, clever, and infuriating too. Is that enough or do you want more?” “I want to get out of here.” Josephine looked 38
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anywhere but at his face, afraid to show how much the praise meant. “I do too,” he agreed. She stared at her hands again. “Even if you escape, you won’t take me with you.” Jared sat up, startling her. Most of the time, he took great care not to make unexpected movements around her. She squeaked as his hand caught her wrist. Fingers under her chin forced her to meet his gaze. “Who betrayed you, Josie? Who hurt you?” His expression was compassionate. He breached her defenses and shattered them. Josephine trembled and stared at Jared with tear-filled eyes. “His name was Nate,” she said. “He was a coyote and he was here before you. I helped him get away. He promised he’d come back for me.” Her tears spilled over. “He lied.” “Oh, Josie,” Jared murmured. His kind eyes held sympathy. He released her wrist but only to secure a grip on the back of her head. She resisted but the wolf pulled her onto his lap and cradled her head against his chest. “I’m so sorry, pussy cat.” She knew from long experience that she could not overcome his strength. So she acceded and rested against him, allowing the tears to come. Unbidden, a connection opened between them. His energy washed over her, like the lapping waves of a lake, soothing and warm. Her skin tingled from scalp to toe, as if every part of her body had fallen asleep, and yet she sizzled with vitality. “I won’t leave you behind, Josie,” he whispered, rocking her. “I promise.” “You will,” she insisted, small and stubborn. “Are you going to betray me again?” Jared asked. “No, never,” she said, clinging to him. He’d shown her the first real kindness to come into her 39
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life in years. She couldn’t repay him with another betrayal. “I’m gonna take you with me. That’s a promise you can count on, Josie cat.” The energy moved again. He surrounded her, dwelt within her and without, making her feel safe. Josephine might have panicked except she had no sensation of drowning or obliteration of self. There was completeness and comfort. “What is that?” she demanded. Jared stiffened. To her regret, the elusive feeling vanished as if into thin air. “I’m sorry,” he apologized. “Wolves are pack animals. We connect with one another.” “I’m a cat,” Josephine said in a rich overstatement of the obvious. His apology stung. Did he mean to imply she wasn’t good enough to connect with? Jared sighed. His fingers caught her twitching, angry tail and soothed the fur. “Don’t kink your tail, Josie. I wasn’t trying to offend you. I just didn’t want you thinking I was trying to control you.” “Oh.” She crouched in his lap and crushed the desire to ask him to open to her again. She would not beg. Her inability to trust seemed so petty and petulant when compared to Jared’s courage. “I’m so sick of being afraid. I’m such a coward.” She rubbed her eyes, attempting to scrub away the tears. “I know you are. But you’re not a coward, Josie. You’ve survived three years in this hellhole. That took courage. Believe me, I understand.” Josephine shook her head. “I don’t know how you can, Jared. You’re not afraid of anything. Not even dying.” “I don’t like flying.” “That doesn’t count. A werewolf worried about damaging an airplane is like an elephant afraid of 40
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crushing the scales.” Jared chuckled. “Touché.” “Name one thing you’re truly scared of. I dare you.” He hesitated. Subtle tension passed through his muscular frame, then he lowered his head. “I worry about the people under my protection getting hurt.” Josephine drew back to meet his gaze. “You mean as a fireman—the people you’re trying to help.” His topaz eyes were inscrutable. “Yeah. That’s what I mean,” he agreed. He lied. Hours later, she lay awake wondering why he’d chosen to lie about that, of all things. **** Just after sundown, Evangeline arrived in her usual fashion. The vampire drank from Jared’s arm and the werewolf once again submitted. Josephine watched the entire exchange with a horrified fascination, feeling like a bystander at a train wreck. She understood better than ever how Jared fooled the vampire. He chained Evangeline with a primal animal magnetism, the seductive energy he wielded to both awe and dominate. Jealousy ate at Josephine until Jared turned his head away from the feeding vampire and stared at Josephine with eyes so cold it chilled her blood. His expression revealed callous hatred—directed at her. Her precarious trust in the werewolf collapsed. Frightened senseless, Josephine flattered her ears and crouched as far from reach as possible. Once she finished feeding, Evangeline dabbed at her mouth with a linen handkerchief. The vampire’s malevolent gaze turned on Josephine. “Why isn’t the cat dead yet, Jared?” From her corner, Josephine emitted a slick hiss and her fur bristled, standing on end. As fast as she was, there was nowhere to run. Then, to Josephine’s 41
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confusion, Jared stepped between her and the vampire. The werewolf lowered his head and captured Evangeline’s gaze. “She’s the only thing I have to fuck in here,” Jared growled. Evangeline’s face twisted with disgust. “Don’t be crude!” “I’m sorry,” Jared apologized with soulful eyes. When he tried, the werewolf could employ his good looks with devastating effectiveness. “It’s just that I’m bored,” Jared complained. “When are you going to let me out?” He offered a seductive glance from beneath lowered eyes. “Wouldn’t you like to feed from my throat, Evangeline?” The vampire laughed. “Be patient, my wolf,” she teased. “Two more nights, I promise. I’m throwing a little soiree and inviting some friends over so that I can show you off. I’ll bring you out of the cage then.” “Oh, wonderful,” Jared said, projecting boyish excitement. “I just love parties.” He waited until Evangeline departed with her minions and then spun, pacing hard and restless. He thrummed with contained violence. Josephine watched him with a sinking feeling in her stomach because she knew his opportunity to escape would come sooner than expected. She lay awake all night worrying. When the vampire fed, Jared looked at Josephine with pure hatred. He might even believe they were okay, but deep down he despised her for betraying him. When the time came, he would leave her behind.
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Day 5 “What’s the first thing you plan to do when you get out of here?” Josie asked. She’d finished the meat and cheese, but left the bun and toppings. In contrast, the werewolf ate everything in front of him and still managed to look hungry. Intrigued that Josie would breach the taboo topic, Jared decided to indulge her. He cocked his head. “Kill vampires.” “I meant after that.” Delicately, Josie began to groom her paw and used it to clean her face. The sight of her small pink tongue moving across her silken fur called to mind other unsatisfied hungers. Jared got hard watching her, forcing him to draw up his knees to conceal the erection straining against his blue jeans. “Drink a beer.” Jared was sick to death of water and soda. Carl refused to bring him anything but, claiming Evangeline disliked the taint of alcohol in the blood. “I’d have thought it would be to shower.” Her superior look was nothing short of catty. Jared chuckled. “Okay, shower and then a beer.” He finished his French fries and eyed Josie’s unfinished food with predatory greed. With a sigh, she shoved the container toward him. “What about you?” Jared watched her for any sign of fear or deception. It was risky but maybe he could use the ploy to convince the silly cat he was committed to winning her freedom as well as his own. Josie stopped grooming. Her huge blue eyes got 43
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bigger. “I’d like to go to school or get a real job.” Jared performed a double take. “You’re kidding?” “No.” Her expression was dejected. “I’m sick to death of being someone’s pet or possession. My entire life, I’ve never been independent.” She glared at him, expecting to be laughed at or mocked. Instead, Jared regarded her with renewed respect. “You should pursue that. What would you like to do?” Her ears perked up and her tail lifted. “I’d like to drive race cars or become a dancer or maybe wrestle alligators like that Australian man on TV.” Jared choked as he swallowed a mouthful of French fries. He coughed into his fist and tears threatened. “Crocodiles,” he said when he could speak again. Josie stared at him. She did not blink. “In Australia, they have crocodiles.” Her ears flattened and her tail lashed. “Whatever.” “Josie, do you even know how to drive?” She huffed. “No.” Jared’s laughter subsided. “When we get out, I’ll teach you.” Josie gazed at him, hopeful and distrustful all at once. “Promise?” “Promise.” He crossed his heart. She beamed and blushed and then changed the topic. “I’m sick to death of cheeseburgers.” She crunched the paper bag with appropriate passion and cast the crumpled ball between the bars. Jared laughed. “I thought all cats loved cheeseburgers.” “Internet lies and fabrications.” “I’ll complain to the staff.” The werewolf disposed of his own garbage, scoring a slam dunk in the trash can across the hall. 44
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“No, seriously,” Josie said. “Can’t you ask for chicken? Or fish? Anything but cheeseburgers. I’m ready to eat my own tail.” Jared stood and his humor took a turn for the grim. “I guess I always have the option to eat a little cat,” he teased. It pleased him when the werecat regarded him with distinct irritation. A few days before, such a remark would have sent her into a panic. In a twisted fashion, it had become their personal inside joke. “Asshat,” she snapped. “Your bones would stick in my teeth anyway.” Jared grimaced and braced. They both knew what came next; he suspected he dreaded it more than she did. He closed his eyes and then opened them again and reached for her, securing a firm grip on her shoulders. As if a switch had flipped, Josie erupted in loud hisses and growls, coming at him with a whirlwind of claws. Those feline talons connected with his chest and he ground his teeth, bracing for the familiar lancing pain, but trusting her to keep her promise. Instead of gouging him, she left behind light welts that began to heal immediately. The scuffle continued for a while but it lacked the vicious conflict of days past. They were both creatures of supreme speed and sublime strength. The confrontation fell somewhere between rough housing and a courtship dance. Jared ignored the implicit eroticism and concentrated on the end goal. He cornered Josie and secured a grip on her waist. He hauled her into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind them. To spare her the floor, Jared sat her on the sink and stood between her legs, pressing his torso against her upper body. The swell of her beautiful breasts against his bare chest was torture. His cock strained full and hard against the denim of his jeans. His nostrils 45
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flared, drinking in the pungent scent of her arousal. She wanted him. The knowledge sent his fragile selfcontrol spiraling. A shudder passed through Jared’s body and he steeled his will. She was going to kill him. “Thank you,” Jared said, reaching up to scratch behind her ear. It was a curious gesture and she submitted to his caress. A purr emanated from deep within her chest, causing Jared to grin. “You’re welcome.” Her hands sought and settled upon his shoulders. He couldn’t resist the temptation to turn his face against her throat, rubbing his cheek against her downy soft fur. He inhaled her scent. So familiar. So right. The rumble of her purr continued, a rich and vibrant sound reverberating through his entire body, pitched to make him ache. Against him, the little cat was restless, writhing and twisting, unable to sit still. Each bump and grind of her pussy against his crotch was torment. Hell, days of holding her like this were torture. His reasons for restraint grew more elusive with each passing second. In desperation, he clung to his resolve not to take advantage of her. A roll of her hips smashed his balls so hard that a warning growl rolled from Jared’s throat. He yanked his head up, flashing fangs, and pulled away so a couple inches separated them. “Sit still,” Jared snarled, glaring. He made eye contact and attempted to dominate her into submission. His ego fell flat when she laughed at him. He sighed, committed to enduring in silent agony, staring straight at his reflection in the mirror behind them. His eyes went wide with disbelief when her small hands tugged open the fly of his jeans. “Josie.” He said her name as a warning. 46
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“Stop being such a stick in the mud, Jared. I wanna play.” Josie had his pants down around his knees before he could react. He always went commando to make shifting easier so there were no barriers between them. As bold as you please, her tail snaked between his legs and wrapped about his thigh. The furry end brushed against his buttocks—whisk, whisk, whisk—and then dipped to caress his ball sac, feather-soft and wispy. Her dense fur felt like mink on his bare skin. “Jesus, ahh. Fuck, Josie,” Jared swore. “You’re making this hard.” He thrust his hips against her, penetrating the outer folds of her pussy with the head of his cock as his hands dropped to her shoulders and then her hips. He intended to stop her; he wound up dragging her toward him. She laughed at him. “Hard is the operative word, isn’t it? Poor Wolfy, is you frustrated?” The tail stroking his balls pressed harder; her pussy creamed against his cock. “You can’t tease me and expect to get away with it,” he threatened. Jared shot her a killing look. Unfortunately, at some point, the damn cat had stopped fearing him and decided to tease the hell out of him. Josie dropped her gaze to his chest. “Are you going to hurt me, Jared?” She tilted her hips forward. “Are you going to…eat me?” “Fuck, yes,” he said, because he could no longer stand it. “I’m going to eat you.” Startled, the wideeyed cat jumped, attempting to get away from him, but Jared had anticipated her movement. His hands locked on her hips, pinning her in place. He went down on his knees and slid his hands to the insides of her thighs, splaying her legs wide and exposing her heated core. Her pussy was pretty and pink and glistening. Jared opened his mouth and 47
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tasted her with his tongue. He started at her anus and licked forward to her clit. The stroke of his tongue caused her hips to buck. “Jared!” Josie yelped and reached for his head. Her claws pushed from their delicate sheathes, gleaming sharp and wicked in the flickering light, and scraped across his temples. Then her fingers laced through his dark hair. “Wait, please. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—I only wanted to play—” “You wanted to tease, but no worries, Josie,” he drawled. “Now we’re playing. My my, look at you. The prettiest little pussy I’ve ever seen.” He parted her labia to expose her clit and flicked it with the tip of his finger. She gasped and thrummed, and he used the reverberation of her body to set his rhythm. Mouth open wide, Jared thrust his tongue into the delicate folds of her pussy, tasting her spice and heat. Josie mewed and moved against his face, fucking his mouth with her rocking hips. Her tail twitched like crazy, communicating a rhapsody of need. Jared eased one finger inside her silken channel. He fucked her with the single digit, moving in and out at an easy pace, well aware that it wouldn’t be hard or fast enough to arouse anything but frustration. Josie arched against him and gazed up with amazed blue eyes. Her hips begged for more, lifting toward his mouth. “Jared, please,” she pleaded. He chuckled, a low and throaty sound emanating from deep in his chest. “Tell me what you want.” Josie whimpered and her tail thrashed in aggravation, lashing his leg. Abruptly, her tail wrapped serpentine about his thigh, constricting with impressive strength. The fingers in his hair punished him for his audacity, yanking hard on the captive strands. Jared withdrew his finger and her 48
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resistance crumbled. “I want to come,” Josie begged. “Please, Jared. Fuck me with your mouth…” Pretty begging deserved to be rewarded, and Jared returned one finger to her pussy and then another, entering her with a firm, twisting thrust. She moaned her satisfaction and he repeated the motion. “Fuck, I could play with you all night, Josie.” On the fourth thrust, her vaginal muscles went into spasm, a small contraction at first. Then another followed, faster and harder, and Jared laved his tongue across Josie’s clit, savoring the honeyed ambrosia. Josie climaxed and her tiny body writhed in ecstasy. She arched her back so her hips lifted from the counter, every muscle drawn taut. Jared stroked his hand across her hip and lower back, massaging the straining muscles. Jared kept pace on her clit, tormenting the tiny bud without mercy, and used his long tongue to penetrate her tight pussy, exploring every nook and cranny of her sex. He held her fast as she reached a second orgasm, feasting on her pretty pink clit. “More? Do you want to go again, Josie?” Jared asked, tilting his head. The sound of Josie’s racing heart filled his ears, a most erotic music. When he turned his face, the soft fur of her abdomen rose against his cheek, the product of her heavy panting. As Jared eased his ministrations, Josie’s body subsided. “No,” she said. Her fingers tugged on his hair, urging him higher along her body. “Jared, I need you. Fuck me.” Jared rose and tilted her hips back on the counter to get a better look at his meal. His compliant, pliable werecat rolled her hips, obeying his touch, limp and gorgeous in the awful artificial light. Josie wore his scent—his pretty little pussy, 49
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his treat, his toy, his friend. He ran his hands over her beautiful breasts, agitating her nipples with calloused palms, deriving satisfaction from the way she mewled and gasped. He locked his hands on her hips and pulled her toward his erect cock, which stood straight out from his body. He positioned the head against her pussy. Josie’s blazing blue eyes opened and she blinked until her vision focused on his face. “Jared—” she whimpered. “Ah, Josie, you were made for fucking.” Jared gripped her hips and yanked her to him. He rammed his stiff cock home to the balls. Those slick, tight muscles grabbed hold of his rod, leaving him panting. He remained still, allowing her body to adjust, relishing every small contraction of her pussy. “What do you think, now, Josie? Are we playing like you wanted?” Jared asked, running praising hands across her small breasts. Her nipples were perky nubs, begging to be tasted, and he lowered his mouth to flick one with his tongue. Her head came up, blue eyes blazing. Josie regarded him with a wicked smirk. “I got what I wanted,” she boasted. With the uncanny limberness that blew his mind, she sat forward and twisted. Her hand snaked between them and gripped his balls and the base of his cock. His ability to think, to speak, dissolved into a red haze. Jared’s jaw worked but he submitted to her touch. Obligingly, he slid a few inches out of her pussy to enable her exploration. Her clever fingers caressed his balls and then encircled the base of his shaft. The all-consuming throbbing between his legs demanded satisfaction—to take, to impale, to use her for his own pleasure. The violence of his beast frightened him and he muzzled it with his last ounce of self-control. 50
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Josie satisfied her curiosity and smiled up at him with her eyes and her lips. “My, what a big tool you have, wolf,” she teased as her hands settled on his hips. “All the better to penetrate you with, kitty.” Jared laughed, savoring her submission, for however long it lasted. He thrust his hips against her core once, taking great care not to hurt her. Then he caught a glimmer of determination in her eyes and her legs wrapped tight about his hips, locking at the calf. She rocked against him and he responded with a shallow thrust of his hips. “Josie,” he ground out. “Jared,” she snapped. “Shut up and fuck me.” Damn cat intended to kill him. Jared closed his eyes, breathing slow and deep. He restrained his impatient wolf and shoved it deep down, suppressing his worst impulses. It was difficult but, when he opened his eyes again, only the man remained. He stayed in her for a long time, riding her with small, controlled thrusts. Sweat created a vibrant sheen on his skin and the exertion became painful. And Josie fought him, straining to take more of his cock, pulling him to her with her hands and legs, pitting her not inconsiderable strength against his. Her stamina gave out long before his; Josie finally stopped pushing for more and submitted. Her supplicating hands slipped down his chest. “Jared, please,” she begged. “Make me come. I want to feel—” Jared grunted and leaned back to slide his hand between them, brushing her experienced fingers aside. He was at the end of his rope anyway. Parting her pussy, his fingers found her clit and closed on the nub, thrumming to heighten her torment. “Beg pretty,” he commanded. “Please, please, please…pretty please,” Josie chanted, fucking herself on his cock with her 51
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helpless writhing. He wound her up, causing her to sweat and moan and finally quake in pleasure. In the end, she screamed for him. The contraction of her tight vaginal walls around his cock pushed him over the edge. The spasm started in his balls, moving through him like a chain of lightning. His vision went white so he closed his eyes, and every muscle in his body grew rigid with the physical exertion of remaining still. He growled, long and low, declaring his dominance with a cry as primitive and primal as the blood of the wolf running through his veins. In that moment, Jared died inside her sheath. Josie wrapped herself around him like a mink and purred loud enough to send reverberations through the tiny room. Panting, Jared met his own accusatory gaze in the mirror. So much for good intentions.
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Day 6 “Ooph.” Jared’s breath expelled from his lungs with the sudden addition of Josephine atop his chest. The cot creaked under the strain of their combined weight. The curious blue-eyed cat shoved her head between the werewolf and his book. He had been ignoring her for hours to read. It was unacceptable. “Whatcha doing?” “Plotting to take over the world. What the hell does it look like I’m doing?” He closed his book. “Don’t be surly.” She stuck the pad of her palm against his chin and brushed his lips with her knuckles. “No one likes a grumpy werewolf.” “Funny, I don’t recall ever worrying about my popularity.” “You should.” Josephine watched as he set the book aside. “Does Shakespeare say anything about cats?” Beneath her, Jared contemplated in silence, his chest rising and falling with comfortable regularity. “In Othello, he says, ‘Drown thyself? Drown cats and blind puppies.’” “Ouch! Hey, no claws!” Jared jumped as Josephine’s claws dug into his bare chest; he grabbed her and lifted her. His laughter echoed through the small cell. “Something more flattering.” “Henry IV: ‘I am as vigilant as a cat to steal cream.’” He lowered her to rest upon his chest again. “Better.” Josephine allowed a purr to erupt from her throat, demonstrating her pleasure. “You’re 53
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growing a beard,” Josie said, stroking her palm across Jared’s cheek. His facial fur was short and rough but she liked it. It was good to be able to touch him whenever and however she wanted. “It happens when I can’t shave,” he replied with a grunt. Her wolf regarded her from beneath lowered eyelids. He looked sleepy but the tension in his long body said otherwise. Footsteps sounded from above them. “They’re coming. Get over in the corner and cower,” Jared sat up on the cot, dislodging Josephine in the process. Naturally, she landed on her feet but she resented the loss of her lover’s comfortable chest. Jared seemed to have no issues at all about being used as a mattress. “Ask for something other than cheeseburgers,” Josephine told him, retreating to her appointed corner. “Shut up and try to look submissive,” Jared shot back. Josephine opened her mouth to make a pithy reply but then Evangeline entered the basement with her guards. The werecat shut her mouth; she was smart enough to know when it was safe to sass back. “Jared, isn’t it a wonderful evening.” Evangeline said. The vampire wore a long blue chiffon gown that dragged on the floor behind her. “Oh yeah, it’s a lark,” Jared agreed. His sarcasm passed so high over Evangeline’s head it soared. The vampire beamed as she talked about her party—decorations, music, the guest list—she went on and on. Jared all but yawned. “I’ve invited a dozen guests to my party, including three of the most prestigious of my kind in the county,” she prattled. “You’re one of them, right?” Jared asked, arching his brow. 54
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The vampire stared at him. “One of who?” “Naturally,” Jared said with a bland smile. “You’re one of the most prestigious vampires for miles in every direction.” Shoving her hand into her mouth, Josephine stifled a laugh. At the same time, she bit her fingers. Jared’s cavalier attitude scared her. If he pissed off Evangeline before he got out of the cage, he might never escape. The cat’s tiny motion attracted the vampire’s attention. Evangeline glared at Josephine. “Why is that still alive?” she demanded. Jared’s entire demeanor transformed from haughty to submissive. It was an abrupt and awkward transition. “Mistress, as I explained, I get bored. And Carl here keeps me well fed.” Evangeline sneered. “Perhaps I should have Carl cut back on your rations.” She glared at Josie. The werecat dropped her gaze and did her best to vanish. “I think maybe I’ll have cat for dinner instead of wolf.” Her tone signed Josie’s death warrant. Josephine shook in outright terror. Jared would do his best to intervene but there wasn’t much he could do if Evangeline decided to drain her. Even her wolf had limits. “Mistress,” Jared said. He stepped between Josephine and Evangeline. His wolf rose, dark and powerful and seductive. “Evangeline,” he said, speaking as a lover did. He made eye contact and had her. The vampire gazed at him as if bewitched. “Don’t waste your time with the cat,” Jared said. “Come to me. I need to feel your touch.” He extended his hand, coaxing the vampire through the bars. Josephine stiffened and bit back a caterwaul. Abruptly, she was in the grip of a green-eyed monster, ears flat and tail twitching. She knew— knew—it was all for show, but she longed to gouge 55
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the vampire’s eyes out. She wanted to rush over and claim Jared—mine, mine, mine. “Open the cell door,” Evangeline commanded. Carl stirred and seemed about to argue. “Let me fetch the cattle prod,” he said. “And the shotguns.” The vampire glanced at her servant, irritated and impatient. But Evangeline retained enough sense of self-preservation to agree to the safety precautions. She waited until her servants were in position, shotguns held at ready, and then she entered the cell. Evangeline rushed Jared. She seized the werewolf and pulled him into an open-mouthed kiss. Jared was already bare-chested; his shirt had been shredded in a bathroom skirmish days before. The vampire clawed at his pants, ripping open the buttons of his fly. The blue chiffon dress tore at the hem. “Evangeline,” Jared managed, allowing the vampire to shove him toward the cot. Evangeline finished stripping his jeans. Jared had to resist…not to resist. Josephine’s stomach churned and nausea besieged her as she crouched, helpless, watching while the vampire mauled Jared. Evangeline pushed Jared into a sitting position on the cot and kneeled between his open thighs. Evangeline shoved his legs further apart and flashed fang, bending to sink her teeth into the femoral artery along his inner thigh. The wolf’s mouth twisted in a silent snarl and his eyes turned solid gold. Jared seized Evangeline’s hair with his hand, forming a fist. His cock was flaccid. Features twisted with hatred and disgust, he turned his gaze to Josephine and pinned her with his topaz eyes. Evangeline drank her fill and finally rose from her crouching position between Jared’s thighs. The vampire wore a rapt expression and her unseeing 56
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eyes failed to register her victim’s misery and lack of physical interest. “It’s true—werewolves are ambrosia,” Evangeline said to no one in particular. Her human servants did not dare respond. Carl opened the cell door for his mistress and stood aside as she passed. Josephine fancied even Carl appeared disgusted and uncomfortable with her depravity. After Evangeline departed, Josephine remained crouched on the cold cement floor, too sick with guilt to move. Jared lurched to his feet, ignoring the blood flowing from the bite wound on his thigh. He staggered into the bathroom and retched in the toilet. How many times had she reacted in a similar way to such a vicious violation? Crawling, Josephine followed him and shoved the bathroom door shut behind her. She found him beside the toilet, kneeling with his forehead against his knee. Hand shaking, Josie reached out to touch him and stopped, unable to complete the act. “Just worshipping the porcelain goddess,” Jared said. He looked up and his misery made her weep. “Don’t cry, pussycat,” he said. “Not worth it.” “Submissive behavior hurts you.” “Not exactly.” He shook his head. “I’ve observed it enough, though usually from the top-down perspective. I understand it well enough to fake it.” “You’re an amazing actor.” Josie sighed in despair. Her hands touched his arm, withdrawing twice before settling against his clammy skin. Jared forced an ironic smile. “I was a theater major in college. I love Shakespeare.” “I hate seeing you like this,” Josie whispered, fighting a new wave of tears. His face turned toward the outer cell. “Being close to that walking corpse—” He shuddered and his entire body convulsed. “Letting her touch me like 57
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that…I’d rather die than be violated like that again.” “Raped,” Josie supplied. She knew the right word; she understood the feeling well. Evangeline had fed on her for years. Daily. She knew what it meant to be raped of her blood. The wolf’s expression turned murderous. “Is this how you feel about me?” Jared demanded. The question came from so far out in left field Josephine could only gape at him. “I—what?” “Yesterday, you came onto me to ingratiate yourself,” Jared ground out. “To make sure I won’t leave you behind. I knew it and had sex with you anyway. Hell, I took advantage of you, as if you haven’t lost enough to this hellhole already. You must hate me, Josie.” “Jared, I—” She balled her fists. “Why did you submit to her? You could have torn her limb from limb. The shotguns aren’t loaded with silver bullets. They’d hurt but they wouldn’t kill you.” “You might have been killed in the crossfire,” Jared said. “I couldn’t take the chance.” “Whenever Evangeline bites you, you look at me,” Josephine continued to speak with an excess of nervous energy. “With so much hatred and—No, please don’t interrupt. Let me finish. Every single time, you’ve stared at me as if you wanted nothing more than to kill me…” Her voice broke and tears flowed. She hiccupped. “I just don’t understand you, Jared. I know you blame me for getting you captured. How can you hate me one second and protect me the next? It doesn’t make any sense!” “I don’t hate you, Josie Cat. Hell, I don’t really blame you for getting me into this. Much. Though, an apology at some point would be nice,” Jared said with smirk. In the face of Josie’s pain and confusion, his misery was forgotten. His gaze was calm, cool, and confident. “I hate her. I only stare at you to 58
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remind myself why I’m not ripping out her heart.” A hand crushed the already broken heart that life had shattered years before. Josephine tilted forward and pushed her face into Jared’s throat. His hands rose in surprise but he opened his arms to take her in. “If I could do it over, I’d have asked for your help in that bar. At the time, it wouldn’t have occurred to me that such a thing was possible,” she said. “I’m so sorry I got you into this mess, Jared.” His grip on her tightened. “It’s okay,” Jared said and, for the first time, Josephine believed him. He eased away enough so she could see his face. His smile was crooked. “Meeting you has been worth it.” His sincerity left her speechless. Tears filled her great blue eyes and a lump filled her throat. No one had ever valued her above their own welfare. No one. “Jared, how I feel about you,” Josephine began and Jared stiffened. She tightened her grip on him, clinging with small strong hands. “I think you’re giving me too much credit. I wasn’t thinking about anything but teasing you and when it happened it was like—” The best damn thing in her miserable life. “I’m not sorry, Jared.” Smiling, he gathered her into his arms and rose from the dirty floor. “Then I’m not sorry either,” he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. It was too much honesty—this overload of intimacy—and way more than any cat could handle all at once. But she might never have another chance. “Jared, if I had a hero you’d fill out his blue jeans just fine,” she said. He laughed. “Thanks, I think. Speaking of blue jeans, I want to put my pants on.” She slid down his body to stand and he peered at her. Those unblinking topaz eyes looked straight into her soul. “Are you done being scared that I’ll leave you?” “You won’t leave me,” Josephine said. “I trust 59
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you, which scares me way more than dying.”
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Day 7 “What time is it?” Josie asked, taking a nice long stretch on the cot. The werecat lifted her head; her blue eyes were hooded. “Ten minutes after the last time you asked,” Jared said with a glare. Waiting, waiting, waiting…It was driving them both insane. “Since there’s no clock, I have no means of knowing the exact time any better than you.” “Mrrow,” Josie growled. “Someone has his boxers in a twist.” She turned over and then turned her head in the direction of the stairs. The werecat’s big ears made her hearing better than his. “Don’t wear any,” Jared informed her even though it wasn’t necessary. She knew the state of his underwear—or lack thereof. Jared stopped his restless pacing to listen. The werewolf had stalked the length of his cell for hours through the late afternoon. The footfalls overhead were heavy and human, preceding Carl into the room. The human servant carried a folded stack of clothing and a small brown paper bag sat perched atop the pile. “That cat still alive?” he said in what had become his customary greeting. “For now,” Jared replied. “I’ll eat her before the party, so don’t worry about bringing dinner.” Carl chuckled. On the bed, Josie hissed and puffed up, ears flat and tail lashing. Jared did not smell fear; it was just for show. They were a team instead of rivals. “Here,” Carl said, offering the stack of clothing 61
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through the bars. Jared shifted, uneasy because it was a casual gesture, very unlike the man’s usual caution. After a slight hesitation, Jared accepted the clothing, quelling the desire to reach out and snap the other man’s neck. “I’m supposed to dress up?” Jared surmised, inspecting what he had been given. It wasn’t much: black leather pants, black boots, and a studded black collar. The paper bag contained personal grooming supplies, including a bottle of body oil. “Evangeline wants you to oil up nice ‘n shiny for her guests,” Carl said. Then he stopped, about to say more, but hesitating. “Yeah?” Jared said. Carl glanced over his shoulder. “Look, I have a pretty good idea what’s gonna happen tonight. I’ve served her for years but my situation isn’t much different from yours. We’re just on opposite sides of the bars.” Jared stared at the man, keeping his expression flat. “What are you saying?” “Nothing,” Carl said, “except, please don’t kill me tonight when you take Evangeline down. I have a daughter in Nogales. I’d like to go stay with her and her family. Start over doing something decent. Maybe be a janitor or a mechanic. Please, let me live. I’m keeping my mouth shut.” “As soon as I’m upstairs tonight, clear out. Leave the party, get out of town, and don’t look back. I won’t follow you,” Jared said. He allowed his wolf to rise, displaying the natural cockiness he’d been hiding for the last week. The human’s face drained of blood and he cowed in instinctive response. Carl nodded, backing away. “You won’t ever see me again.” “After tonight, you’d better hope so,” Jared said. “Tonight, there will be two vampires with me when I come to escort you upstairs. They’re 62
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supposed to help keep you under control.” “Okay, thanks,” Jared said, filing the information away. He watched the other man leave and then turned to Josie. The werecat sprang off the cot. “Was that smart?” Josephine demanded, rushing at Jared with concern. Her hands grabbed for his chest. “What if he changes his mind? He could betray us!” “He won’t,” Jared said. “How can you be sure?” she asked. The cat was close to hysterics. Jared sighed and set the clothes and bag aside. He placed a hand on either side of Josie’s face and gazed into her eyes. “Trust me,” he said. “Trust my instincts. Can you do that?” Her breathing grew steady and even as she calmed. Her lips twitched and her tail followed suit. She wanted to argue with him but nodded and resisted the impulse. “Good girl,” he said, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Come into the bathroom with me?” “What happens next?” Josephine asked. She reached up to grasp his arms, settling her fingertips against the inside of his wrists. She hadn’t consented to accompany him and he didn’t want go through their usual production. Not tonight. “Josie, please.” He kissed her neck below the ear and then her throat above the jugular. Her fur felt velvet soft beneath his lips. “I need you to trust me.” Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “See? Talk like that makes me trust you less.” He sighed. “Do you always have to be so contrary?” “I’m a cat,” she said. “It’s expected.” “Right.” His mouth twisted in a grimace. Out of patience, Jared picked Josie up and tossed her over his shoulder. 63
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“Hey,” she hissed, writhing so the muscles of her backside bunched and her tail flexed. He got hard just watching her squirm. “This wasn’t part of the plan!” “Plans change,” Jared said. He swatted her rump once hard for the simple pleasure of watching her jump. Then he carried her into the bathroom and shoved the door closed for the little privacy it afforded. “Put me down, you Cromag wolfman.” She threatened him with the glide of claws across his bare back. Jared didn’t flinch. He trusted her—more than she did him. It wasn’t a wise choice, but he obeyed his instincts. Hefting her off his shoulder, he set her down, placing her feet firm on the tile floor. He exhaled hard so his nostrils flared. He looked down at her and remained silent, thinking hard. She claimed to trust him. How much? Fuck, he loathed having to destroy any of her hard-earned trust. Josie’s eyes grew round and she backed away from him, staring with a fearful expression. “Jared? Okay, now you’re scaring me for real…” He held up his hands in a staying gesture. “Josie, would you do something for me? Please? Just once do as I ask without a thousand questions and arguments.” Out of desperation, he attempted to use his wolf to soothe her, allowing his power to flow across her tense frame. It was risky. His attempts to treat her as a submissive wolf tended to provoke a negative reaction from her. She stopped retreating just before she ran out of bathroom. “What?” she asked. Her mysterious cat mind was philosophical. To trust? Not to trust? That was the question. “Shift fully to human,” Jared said. He waited. Time passed and he realized she wouldn’t do it for him. Her half-cat, half-human form was her armor. 64
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Trust had been a mirage in their personal desert. Frustrated, he closed his eyes, sorting possibilities and attempting to revise his escape plans into some kind of workable strategy. The odds of getting out and keeping Josie alive in the process seemed insurmountable without her cooperation. “Jared?” He opened his eyes and found her in human form. She held her head high and stood with her back straight, enduring his inspection. She was petite and whip-thin with high pretty breasts and a tiny waist. Her skin was a dusky mocha and her short black hair sleek and shiny. The clunky gold collar around her neck contrasted with her refined beauty. “Josie, you’re gorgeous,” Jared said. He beckoned her to him, not bothering to conceal his arousal. “Why don’t you want me seeing you like this?” As a rule, shapechangers had no taboos about nudity and little personal modesty. His cat took three nervous steps forward, entering the circle of his arms of her own free will. “I feel…exposed.” “You’re gonna need to stay like this for my plan to work. Just remember, stay human no matter what. They’ll know you’re not dead if you shift,” Jared said, reaching for her throat with his hands. “Plan? What plan?” she asked. Her pulse accelerated but then settled as he fumbled with the collar, working the combination lock so that it snapped open. Jared pulled the hated thing from her neck and then tossed it into the trash. Josie blinked, her breath hitched and her blue eyes glimmered with unshed tears. Jared ran his fingers over the red indention the tight collar had left on her delicate flesh. “Never again, Josie Cat,” he promised. “No one will ever put a collar on you again.” 65
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Josie reacted with something between a meow and a growl. Then her small hands were between them—insistent and urgent—tugging at the fastening of his pants. She ripped open the button fly, freeing his cock, which sprang into her open palm. Her fingers wrapped around his pulsing rod and she squeezed hard enough to make him gasp. “Fuck, Josie,” he snarled. His eyes flashed with pent up aggression. “I don’t want gratitude sex.” “Jared.” She flashed small, sharp teeth and her hand imprisoned his cock. Her other slipped between his legs to cup his balls. She had him; oh, she had him good. “Don’t be an ass. Shut up and enjoy the fucking blow job.” She bent her head and he ground his teeth, expecting the punishing nip of her feline teeth, and yet he made no move to shove her away. He definitely trusted her more than she did him. Her silken tongue passed over the head of his cock, tasting the pre-cum beading there, as the tip delved into his slit. She worked him with her hands, fisting his shaft and massaging his balls. Josie’s mouth closed on the head of his cock and Jared’s last coherent thought went south. He moaned and rocked his hips in rhythm with her hands and mouth. His wolf longed to bypass the light stuff and plunge his entire shaft down her throat until his scrotum seized. The violence of his urges scared him. Bending, Jared pried Josie from his cock, freeing first her mouth then her hands. “Jared, what’s wrong?” She sounded confused and maybe hurt. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just too close. I want to be inside you when I come,” he assured her, hauling her up his body. His hands gripped her buttocks and, she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. It was strange to feel her smooth 66
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skin against his. No fur; no tail. Damn, he missed her tail. Being careful with her required a great deal of effort and caused his hands to sweat. With all of the strength and precision he could muster, Jared guided the head of his cock to the entrance of her tender pussy; he must not be rough. He fumbled a bit, negotiating angles of entry and depth. Got in an inch, then two, then withdrew. “Stupid wolf,” Josie hissed. With a sinuous twist of her hips, she rose and sank down on his shaft. Half in, she wailed. Jared felt his eyes cross and his heart tried to leave his chest. “Tight, so fucking tight,” he managed, and it was all he could do to hold on and remain still while Josie negotiated his cock. The werecat was so tiny he feared splitting her in two. The urge to fuck her as hard as he could—to see if he could—terrified him. Josie dug into his shoulders with her fingernails, drawing blood, and she came down on him again with a look of fierce determination. She rocked her hips and sank until fully impaled, mewling in mixed pleasure and pain. She did not give herself time to adjust. She rode him, rising and falling with tiny thrusts. Her taut pussy tugged his cock, causing Jared more torment than satisfaction. Somehow she pushed him right to the edge of darkness and then over. His control slipped and he started to change, transforming into a wolf. His teeth lengthened and sharpened into incisors and his fingers grew about two inches, most of it claw. His eyes turned gold and his muscles rippled and bones threatened to crack. Every part of him lengthened and thickened with the change. The silver bracelets cut into his flesh causing his wrists to bleed. A howl rose from his throat: the proud, confident song of a dominant wolf. In his arms, Josie froze and watched wide-eyed 67
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as he struggled to regain control. He slipped far enough to be more animal than man, and then managed to halt the transformation. His cock no longer fit inside her sweet pussy, even though the head was against her cervix. He had inches left and nowhere to go unless he rammed into her womb, and the temptation was unbearable. It was all he could do to hold onto his humanity. Josie panted and sweated, shaking with reaction to the strain. Every inch of her pussy was stretched around him. Her small human hands clung to him but it was his strength alone controlling the depth of his penetration. Jared expected Josie to react with disgust or fear and to flip out on him at any second. Instead, she gazed up at him with awe. A smile lit her face. Jared shifted his hold on her ass, being ever so careful not to nick her soft skin with his claws. He lowered his head, inhaling the scent of her skin and her sex. Cat. Companion. Friend. Lover. Mate. How the hell would he ever explain her to his parents? “Fuck me, Wolfy. Fuck me hard,” Josie teased, pressing a kiss to the underside of his throat. For a wolf, it was a sign of submission. Howling loud enough to raise the roof, Jared surged against Josie’s core, eliciting a scream from the werecat as his cock slammed her pussy. He took her with powerful thrusts, claiming her in the most primal way possible. He stood with his head thrown back and his hands supporting her buttocks, maintaining a precarious balance. His hips undulated, driving the rhythm and the pleasure that defied reason. Josie held her own, demonstrating a sinuous limberness. Her ankles were locked across the small of his back; her powerful thighs gripped his hips. She slid along his length, owning him, redefining the very act of copulation. Together, grunting and 68
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sweaty, they strained until Josie climaxed with a long wail of pleasure. The second before his balls tightened, Jared turned his face into the curve of Josie’s neck. He snarled and his teeth flashed, ripping out the side of her throat. Her blood burned his mouth. She tasted of copper and sex and life and death. Her body convulsed with inseparable pain and pleasure as blood gushed from the wound. Jared threw back his head to release a triumphant howl and then everything went white hot as his climax crested. **** Jared left Josie in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor. She lay on her back with her hands clutched to her torn flesh. Her breathing was fast and shallow, and her heartbeat labored. Cheeks wet with tears, her expression was one of pain and despair. He’d done worse than rip out her throat, he’d broken her heart. He sank to one knee beside her, leaning over to whisper into her ear. “Don’t shift until I’m gone.” He did not apologize for being a bastard; the anger would keep her strong. The cat glared at him with baleful eyes, accusing him of being a wretched traitor. The worst part? She had been right from the beginning. He washed in the sink and then went to the outer cell area to dress, leaving the door wide open behind him.. The black leather pants and boots were skin tight and not something he would have chosen, but he pulled them on anyway. Jared finished rubbing the oil onto his chest and shoulders, giving up on his back with a shrug. So what if the fang gang was disappointed because every inch of him wasn’t shiny? In an hour, they would have much bigger concerns. Jared had picked up the studded leather collar to examine when Carl entered the basement. As predicted, there were two 69
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vampires with him—Evangeline and a strange male. Both of the leeches picked up on the blood scent. “Smells like a fresh kill,” the male vampire commented, sniffing with interest. “Evangeline, you never said you were feeding your wolf live food.” As he spoke, his eyes flared and his fangs elongated with arousal. “Jared, you finally ate her.” Evangeline smiled. The vampire wore a black gown and her chestnut hair was pinned up in an old-fashioned hairstyle. “I didn’t leave enough for you,” Jared informed the male vampire. He deliberately did not look back, ignoring the body in the bathroom. Carl stared at Jared with disbelief and maybe disappointment. “I didn’t think you’d really do it,” Carl mumbled, staring toward the bathroom. Jared shrugged. “Payback’s a bitch. She had it coming and she’d served her purpose.” “I couldn’t be more pleased,” Evangeline said, running her hand across Jared’s bare chest. He endured her molestation for the moment. The human servant regarded the wolf for the longest time. The stench of Carl’s fear was thick in the air. “You gonna take me up?” Jared asked, cocking his brow. “You gonna keep your word?” Carl asked, digging a finger into the neckline of his shirt to vent his sweaty throat. “His word on what?” the male vampire asked. “He promised to behave.” “Of course he’ll behave,” Evangeline said, shoving Carl toward the cell door. Jared smiled and showed fang. He no longer bothered to hide his power, allowing it to rise to the surface and fill the space. He dominated everything around him, including the vampire. Evangeline’s susceptibility to his sway made it almost too easy. “I always keep my word. Just ask her.” Jared indicated 70
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Josie. “I promised I’d make her pay.” Carl recoiled and opened the cell door with shaking hands. The human made way for the werewolf, cringing and skulking, displaying subservient behavior. Jared decided then to let the man live. There were too few creatures who knew their place. Carl started to swing the cell door shut. “Leave it,” Jared commanded. The human looked at him and then walked away from the door. Jared cast one final glance over his shoulder at Josie. He hesitated and then gathered his resolve, ascending the stairs two at a time. The vampires followed him up. **** Jared’s betrayal hurt worse than the wound to her throat. Josephine remained supine and motionless with a hand pressed to her throat, staunching the blood. The bite wound was low and close to the shoulder. He had missed the vital areas higher up. Don’t shift until I’m gone. His final words to her were more real than the voices not too distant outside the cell. She heard Jared and others, but they might as well have been on another world. She focused on the sound and registered his hurtful words. Payback’s a bitch. She had it coming. Tears flowed down Josephine’s cheeks. God, how could she have been so stupid? How could she be so naive to think for a second that the bastard had forgiven her betrayal? Her willingness to believe his lies demonstrated the extent of her weakness and neediness. For unknown reasons, Josephine obeyed Jared and remained still, not shapechanging until the voices had grown distant, indicating they were heading upstairs. 71
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Then she gathered her strength and rolled to the side. Free of the imprisoning collar, she slipped from her human form into feline. Unlike a werewolf, her metamorphosis was not a horrifying, bone cracking thing. Her cat flowed across her skin as fast and easy as water. The magic transformed her flesh and her throat was healed when the change completed. Blood saturated her fur but the flesh beneath was whole. Later she would be voracious, but she was otherwise unharmed. As a cat, Josephine weighed no more than eleven pounds. Her registered pedigree was as a seal point Siamese, which meant her points were black and her body cream-colored. She fit between the bars of the cage and ran for the stairs. Free at last! **** Carl waited at the top of the staircase. Jared came up behind the human and the vampires followed the werewolf. “Party is through there,” Carl said, pointing the way. “You need anything else from me?” “No, I’m good,” Jared said. His hands turned to claws. Carl stank of fear. With a final look, he turned and ran, departing without a word. The vampires reached the top of the stairs. “What’s going on?” Evangeline demanded, suspicious of Carl’s abrupt departure. “I think he said something about an appointment with God.” Jared turned and swung his arm in an upward arch, coming in low and fast. His claw punctured Evangeline’s gut before the vampire spoke another word. “You should have followed your instincts and left me alone,” Jared told her. His lips curling back in a snarl and his eyes glowed golden. The werewolf shoved his forearm deeper into the vampire’s 72
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abdomen as Evangeline gaped at him in disbelief. Her flesh was thin and brittle so it was like ripping through tissue paper. Jared’s claw located the vampire’s heart. It was hard and shriveled and did not beat. He pierced it with his claws, dragging out the excruciating execution. “I am Alpha of the Roanoke Pack,” he snarled into Evangeline’s horrified face, speaking around protruding teeth. He stared into her eyes, making sure she understood who she had screwed with. Only when he saw comprehension on her face did he yank his claw from her chest, ripping her shriveled heart from her body. Screaming, Evangeline exploded into dust. The shocked male vampire reacted, hissing and sporting fangs. He swung at the dust cloud and hit Jared in the shoulder with a random punch. Arms raised, Jared plowed straight through the dust, using it for cover. Werewolf claws caught the vampire in the throat, cutting deep incisions through flesh and bone. The beheaded corpse collapsed in upon itself, sending up a second cloud of ash. Jared emerged sneezing from the cloud and snorted, trying to blow vampire dust from his nose. His eyes were irritated and watering. He grabbed hold of the silver bracelet on his right arm and twisted the band until it broke. Then he did the same with the other. A scurrying sound caught his attention and he glanced down in time to catch a glimpse of a slender Siamese cat as she shot past his feet. Jared paused to watch Josie flee, figuring it was the last time he’d ever see his cat. She was free and alive. If he died in the coming fight with the other vampires, then his honor remained intact, though sullied. Once past him, she stopped to stare back. The elegant creature was long and thin in profile. Shifting had healed the wound on her throat. “You’re 73
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smaller than I expected,” he said with a smirk. Josie laid her ears flat. He did not apologize. A shout came from the end of the hallway and Jared turned, seeing three more vampires coming toward him. A roar resounded from his chest, challenging the vampires to fight. His pants split at the seams, falling from his body. Jared allowed the transformation to take him, embracing his very angry wolf. He cast one final glance at Josephine but she was gone. Howling at the top of his lungs, he charged into battle. **** Josephine slunk through the parking lot, moving unnoticed beneath the vehicles. In the distance, screams and angry growls carried well through the clear night air. More than one pair of feet ran past her hiding spot and once a car sped through the lot. She came upon a pair of familiar feet beside a battered white pickup truck. It was Carl, making a lot of noise as he fumbled with a rifle, attempting to load rounds into the chamber. His hands shook and he dropped a handful of bullets. A silver bullet rolled to a stop in front of Josephine. Carl stooped to pick up his dropped ammunition and Josephine froze. She had chosen a hiding spot right behind the left rear tire. If Carl looked close enough, he was sure to see her. Carl scooped up the bullets near his feet. Then the human grunted and bent, shoving his arm beneath the vehicle in search of the missing bullet. His menacing fingers groped closer and closer to Josephine, threatening discovery. Ears flattened, she issued a silent hiss and batted the bullet with her paw, sending it into Carl’s open hand. The man released a rumble of satisfaction and closed his fingers around the prize. 74
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The offending hand withdrew and a second later Josephine heard the distinct click of the bolt sliding into place. Carl moved away from the vehicle, his footsteps loud and then fading as he headed back toward the house. Josephine agonized for several vital seconds. She had a good idea what Carl intended and a vengeful part of her wanted to let it happen. But ultimately, she couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Josephine shot out from under the vehicle and followed Carl, catching up and keeping pace. As she rounded the corner of the house, Josephine caught sight of Jared. The werewolf had a male vampire pinned against the side of the house. An assortment of broken furniture littered the ground, the remains of a patio set. A body floated face down in the pool, darkening the pale blue water with fresh blood. The vampire hissed and slugged Jared in the throat, causing the werewolf to gag and stagger. Carl stopped short of the fighting pair and brought the rifle up, aiming the gun at Jared’s back. Josephine did not hesitate. She shifted to halfcat, half-human and leapt on Carl’s back. The muzzle of the rifle swung to the right and the shot went wide. Carl lurched beneath Josephine’s weight, cursing a blue streak. The vampire leapt at Jared, attempting to secure a bite hold on the werewolf’s throat, attacking with hands extended and jaws parted wide to reveal gleaming fangs. One of Jared’s hands caught the vampire’s face, hooking his mouth. The undead creature screamed in agony as dagger-like werewolf claws punched holes in the vampire’s cheek and ripped his face in half. Carl bucked and twisted, attempting to retain his hold on the rifle as Josephine forced his arms down. Her heart raced with the excitement of the 75
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hunt and kill. Her feline nature had been too long denied. The man’s mouth dropped open and he shouted when he realized the identity of his attacker. “What the fuck,” Carl shouted. “What the hell is your problem, cat? He betrayed you. I’m trying to take care of both our problems.” Jared’s claw punched into the vampire’s chest, reaching for his heart. The vampire’s life ended with a sickening slosh—a sound rather like a flesh bag full of fluids bursting. Jared’s triumphant howl announced his victory for all within hearing range. Josephine glared at Carl with glittering blue eyes and released a long drawn hiss. “Three years of your abuse—do you recall that cattle prod? And you have to ask why?” She drew back her arms and lashed out with extended claws. Her cat reflexes were superior to the human’s reactions. Her claws sliced parallel cuts through Carl’s throat and he died with a stunned murmur. His body fell forward to the ground. For several seconds, dead silence reigned. She stared at Jared, and he at her across a small divide. With a snarl, Josephine tossed back her hair and whirled upon her heel. She beat a hasty retreat toward the parking lot, tail held high. She might have saved Jared’s life, but he had not been forgiven. **** Josephine watched the remainder of the carnage from a juniper bush, crouching on bark dust next to a sprinkler head. She moved through the grounds, following Jared from a safe distance and watching as the werewolf left a pile of bodies—human and vampire—in his wake. She saw him return to the house and emerge a short time later wearing his blue jeans. Josephine ambushed him near the garage; an 76
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eleven-pound cat sprang out to deal a punishing bite to the werewolf’s calf through his pants. His blue jeans smelled of sweat and sex and blood from a week’s wearing without washing. He had reverted to human form. All of the vampires were dead or fled, and maybe it was difficult for a full size wolfman to fit behind a steering wheel. She wanted—no, needed—his attention, so she leapt out and bit him and then sprang away. Hers was a sprightly spring charged with enthusiasm for revenge. “Damn cat,” Jared said and stopped. He bent and peered into the bush where Josie had taken refuge. His smile infuriated her and at least he had the sense not to “here kitty kitty” her. He waited and time passed. She debated whether to come out and wondered how long he would wait. He remained, kneeling on the ground and watching her with his topaz wolf eyes. Finally, he heaved a sigh and sat on the ground. “Josie,” he said in that fuck-me voice that she both adored and despised. “Josie, Josie, Josie—you’re pissed. I get that, I do. You have every right to be. “I made choices without asking you. It’s a habit, I suppose, and maybe it doesn’t seem fair or right to you. But I’m used to making decisions for the people under my protection. It’s who I am. I am the Alpha of my pack. “Everything about you fucks me up and twists me around inside until I have no idea which direction is up. I never wanted to hurt you, Josie Cat. The first thing to draw me to you was your fear—I wanted to save you. I wanted to protect you—from me, from life, from everything.” And still he waited. At least an hour had passed before he stood, dangling his car keys from his fingers. He started to walk away when Josie came at him, shifting to her cat-woman form which 77
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facilitated speech. She rushed Jared in a flurry of claws and fangs, leaping straight at him. She gouged scratches on his chest and lacerated his face without the slightest regard for his sight or his beauty. She fought him with all of her might, uncaring of whether he chose to retaliate and take her life. Jared subdued her, pinning Josie to the ground, her wrists secured at her sides and her lower body beneath his. It was just like old times. His blood got all over her; her tears on him. His kissed her face and licked away the tears. “I’m so sorry, baby. Please believe me; forgive me. I never wanted to hurt you.” “Liar,” she screamed and sobbed. “Liar! You deceived me. You tricked me and then, when I finally trusted you, you betrayed me. Do you have any idea what it took for me to trust again?” “You told that vampire I had it coming,” she said through her tears. He had broken her heart. “You set out to find the worst possible way to hurt me and then took revenge.” Jared released her hands. “I owe you,” he said, “a debt of honor. Do you want my eyes, Josie? My throat? My life?” He rolled, bringing her with him so she was lying on top. He raised his arms, hands beside his head, and assumed a position of submission. Her skin vibrated with the force of his power. Josie stared at Jared, disbelieving, and her claw snaked out to caress his cheek. Pliant, he turned his head to the side. He did not flinch when she passed a razor sharp claw over his eye. She rested the needle point of her nail against his closed eyelid. She could blind him. Such injuries did not regenerate. “You’re an Alpha—leader of your pack. Not just a dominant wolf, but a fucking Alpha,” she said. “Seven days and you never saw fit to mention it?” He did not turn his head and kept his threatened eye closed. Jared’s heart rate remained 78
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slow and steady; she could not scent a hint of fear. He wasn’t afraid of her at all. “I’m an Alpha wolf; you’re a cat,” he said. “You don’t like being told what to do; issuing orders is what I’m accustomed to. I didn’t want to make you feel more threatened.” “Where is your pack now?” He flashed his teeth in a wolf smile. “By now, they’ve noticed I’m missing. The pack is probably somewhere between here and Virginia, shredding everything in their path. See, there was a degree of urgency to getting out of there on my own. Being rescued would’ve been damn embarrassing.” “I see.” Her laugh emerged as a bitter sound. Her claws retracted and his eyelid twitched beneath her fingertip. She stroked the silky lashes. Josie couldn’t stand to gouge one of those beautiful eyes. She reached for his throat instead and settled all of her claws against vital points, considering…It was so much more appropriate. She could bite him but she doubted her mouth could damage his thick neck. “When did you decide to play Russian roulette with my life?” she demanded. “Seven days ago?” He turned his head and looked up at her. “Tonight, when Carl told me about the vampires who would accompany him and that he wanted out,” Jared replied. His answer had the ring of honesty. “I knew then I had a chance to get you out, so I improvised. If they thought you were dead then there was no reason to lock the cell behind me. The wound was severe but not lethal. I know how to bite without striking a major artery.” She sucked in a sharp breath and tightened her grip on his throat. “You trust your judgment that fucking much that you’d risk my life?” Jared met her eyes and never blinked or wavered. “Yes.” 79
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Her confidence faltered. Tears resurged along with doubt and fear and desire. She despised her weakness and his strength. Damn it! Damn him! She needed something more than this wolf’s unshakeable confidence in his own judgment and ability. “There’s more, isn’t there?” she asked, furious with him again. She allowed the tips of her claws to pierce his throat opening eight pinpricks, each shedding a single drop of blood. Abruptly, the werewolf’s entire body tensed as he took her threat seriously this time. He shook his head once. “There’s only this,” he said. He braced and waited to see if she’d rip out his throat. “This…this…What is this?” Her claws sank deeper and he flinched, sucking down a hard breath. Beneath her hands, his pulse raced. Still he waited, and finally, she understood. This was dominance and submission. He was a wolf; he was Alpha. And he had rolled onto his back, offering his eyes, his throat, and his life to an unpredictable Siamese cat. Josie had seen what submission to Evangeline had cost him—how it made him feel. He had endured the vampire’s blood rape for Josie’s sake. Her breath exhaled in a whoosh and she removed her claws from his throat, settling her palms against his bare chest. Josephine did not surrender her position astride him. “I betrayed you twice; you got me once bad,” she said. “Can we be even now?” The tension bled out of Jared’s body. “I forgave you days ago. Can you forgive me?” “Maybe,” she said. She had already forgiven him but had no intention of telling him that. He could suffer for a while first. He had it coming. “Josie,” he scolded. Those topaz eyes allowed no 80
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evasion. “I need for you to be sorry! Not right.” His head tilted forward. “I’m so damn sorry I hurt you, Josie, I don’t have the words.” She blinked back tears. “Fine, I forgive you.” He smiled. “Can you trust me again?” “I don’t know,” she said. She glanced to where the cars were parked. “Were you going to leave me?” “No. I was going to call my pack, regroup, get some new clothes, and then find you,” Jared said. “I figured I’d give you some time to cool off and then try to apologize. To explain.” “You were walking away,” Josephine said, choking on grief and uncertainty. “I thought you were leaving me.” “Josie.” He met her gaze. “I wouldn’t leave you like that. You matter too much to me.” “Honest?” Josephine marshaled a smile. She despised her own whininess, the part of her still living inside a cage. “Honest.” He grinned. “Besides, walking off was just a ruse to draw you out. I was getting tired of sitting there.” “Oh!” She smacked him on the chest. “Don’t pretend for a second that I’m predictable.” “Not for a second.” His smile turned to laughter, and she joined him, laughing until she gasped for air. Their humor was short-lived but she breathed easier afterward. “What next?” Josephine asked. “How are you feeling?” The question took more courage to pose than Josie possessed. The reality of life outside of a cage wasn’t something she’d fully grasped or considered just yet. She searched her heart and found both fear and hope for the future…with him. “I’m frightened.” She felt uncertain and fragile. The world was a huge scary place after three years 81
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in captivity. Jared, a complete stranger and a werewolf she’d known for a week, represented her only link to the outside world. “I don’t have anywhere to go.” “I don’t want you coming with me because you have no other options. That’s just another cage,” he said. “I’ll take you wherever you want, help you get settled. Or I can give you money if you want to go on your own.” His offer hurt more than she’d have thought possible. Either he wanted to be rid of her or he believed she couldn’t stand him. Her emotions were battered, and her body exhausted. She could not expend any more energy on these games. The werecat’s shoulders slumped and she crossed her arms, sliding backward and off Jared. “Whatever you want,” she said. “I can take care of myself.” He sat up. Rough arms halted her retreat and hauled her back. Jared placed Josie on his lap and wrapped his arms around her, creating a cage and a sanctuary. “If it’s up to me then I’m keeping you. Josie Cat, you’ve turned my whole world upside down in just a week and I very much want you to stay,” he said, pure male in his assertion of his rights. Josie stiffened her spine and her resolve. “I want more than to be some werewolf’s fuck toy,” she told him, narrowing her blue eyes. “As if it’s a step up from being a vampire’s blood donor.” His hands framed her face and did something he hadn’t done in their week together: he kissed her. His lips were full and firm. Her wolf kissed with his heart and his soul, transforming it into a simple act of honesty. Desperate to believe it was real, Josie grasped at his chest with her hands, kneading the solid muscle of his pecs. Jared broke contact and nuzzled the side of her 82
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face, still more wolf than man. His gaze reflected a powerful, scary devotion. “Josie, you’re so much more to me than that.” Josephine already understood that Jared put more stock in actions than words, but it also created uncertainty. She needed to believe it could be real. “No more secrets? No more lies?” Josephine asked. Jared hesitated to answer and the look on his face set off alarms. “Oh no,” she moaned, fighting down a tide of panic. “What else? What aren’t you telling me now?” Jared exhaled, slow and hard, so his nostrils flared. “I don’t want to scare you away.” Josephine opened her mouth but before she made a reply, a tsunami of energy engulfed her, the same as she’d experienced before but a thousand times more powerful. The air crackled, causing her fur to rise, her skin to tingle, and her entire body to vibrate. She fell against Jared’s chest, gasping for air. A connection opened between them. The metaphysical link gave her a window straight into his heart. She knew him—his unshakeable self-confidence, his sense of honor and fair play, his protectiveness and playfulness, and even his wicked humor and horniness. “What is that?” Josephine demanded. “That’s the mate bond,” Jared explained. “Wolves mate for life. It’s your guarantee that I could never act against you or harm you in any way.” She trembled and stared at him with great rounded eyes. “How did this happen?” His lips twisted in a sardonic smile. “I’m not sure. At some point along the way, my wolf chose you. By the time I figured out what had happened, we’d already had sex and sealed the bond.” He stared at her with that uncanny perception, 83
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no doubt reading her fear and apprehension. “You don’t have to be afraid, Josie. You can walk away any time you want. You’re not a wolf.” “What about you?” Josephine asked. “What happens to you if I leave?” His mouth set in a grim line; his eyes were sorrowful. “If you leave, I’m screwed. Wolves mate for life. There will never be anyone else who can replace you in my heart or in my bed.” The truth of his words resonated through the connection. Feeling ill, Josephine looked away and then back at him. She bit her lower lip. “I don’t want you to be bound to me, Jared. You’ve already lost enough of your freedom because of me.” The tension around his eyes eased. “The mate bond is a choice made of free will, Josie. I chose to tie myself to you, even if I wasn’t consciously aware of doing so at the time.” Her eyes brimmed with tears. She refused to blink and shed them. “Will you let me go?” His vast hurt and disappointment reached her through their empathic bond. “Yes,” Jared said, and he meant it. “Josie, I’d love for you to stay with me, because I believe together we have something real, something worth fighting for. But more than that, I want for you to be free. If that means you want a job or to drive or to fly, then I’ll do whatever I can to help you. Even if it means letting you go.” She stiffened in disbelief, and then turned into him, safe within his arms. Josie thrust her face against her wolf’s neck, nipping at his throat with sharp teeth. Her great big badass werewolf. A purr of pleasure erupted from her chest. “Okay, then,” she said, “I guess being a werewolf’s fuck toy isn’t so bad.” She loved him. She couldn’t say it yet. Maybe she didn’t need to thanks to an unshakeable bond and unlimited trust. 84
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Besides, she was sure that he knew. Her wolf threw back his head and roared with laughter. Then he climbed to his feet and gathered her in his arms, carrying her…wherever. So long as they wound up there together.
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About the Author Melissa Snark is a resident of Northern California, where she lives with her husband, three children, and three cats. Visit Melissa at www.melissasnark.com To chat with Melissa Snark and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
Also Available
The Vampire’s Madam by L. Rosario Not only is Janna Cutting scorned by Victorian Society for her Indian blood but also because she owns one of the city’s most profitable brothels. As madam she possesses wealth and independence and still she longs for one thing, the mysterious Hugh de Troyes. Yet, week after week, he treats her as nothing more than the proprietor of Keya House. Fueled by jealousy, Janna decides to play voyeur during the handsome Frenchman’s visit. What she witnesses leaves her aroused beyond endurance and privy to the knowledge that Hugh is far from satisfied. He deserves a woman willing to see to all his needs, a woman willing to bleed. Janna is that woman, but failing to convince Hugh might leave her with a wound far greater than any his fangs could inflict.
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[email protected]. The Wild Rose Press, Inc. www.thewilderroses.com
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